Philadelphia's lack of highways and freeways.. .

[wndsofchng06]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan2013

I'm thankful that Philadelphia doesn't have a more extensive highway system, and I would never want Philly to emulate a city that does. The fact that the vast majority of the city's urban fabric remained in-tact during a period of collective national insanity is nothing short of a miracle. When I look at the 1966 Comprehensive Plan for Expressways, I always feel a sense of relief coupled with a sense of dismay that the City Planning Commission was so willing to destroy large portions of the city at the time. Had that entire plan been realized, I would've grown up next to the 52nd Street Expressway in West Philly, my first post-college apartment along Girard Avenue wouldn't have existed due to the Girard Avenue Expressway, and the Main Street restaurants I currently enjoy in Manayunk would've fallen to the proposed eastern bank section of 76.

I am so glad that the period of destroying urban spaces for the convenience of suburbanites is long over. The city that I love and enjoy today would've been thoroughly destroyed had it not been for the heroic anti-highway protestors of the time. Instead of a more extensive highway system, we need to focus on expanding the breath and frequency of the Regional Rail system. 15 minute headways between Norristown and Center City, for example, would do more to remove cars from local roads than another highway could ever accomplish.

ABSOLUTELY!

We need less car-centric development. If one looks past all the politics of it, there really are a myriad of benefits to increased public transit and walkability.

[TheProf]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan2013

I'm thankful that Philadelphia doesn't have a more extensive highway system, and I would never want Philly to emulate a city that does. The fact that the vast majority of the city's urban fabric remained in-tact during a period of collective national insanity is nothing short of a miracle. When I look at the 1966 Comprehensive Plan for Expressways, I always feel a sense of relief coupled with a sense of dismay that the City Planning Commission was so willing to destroy large portions of the city at the time. Had that entire plan been realized, I would've grown up next to the 52nd Street Expressway in West Philly, my first post-college apartment along Girard Avenue wouldn't have existed due to the Girard Avenue Expressway, and the Main Street restaurants I currently enjoy in Manayunk would've fallen to the proposed eastern bank section of 76.

I am so glad that the period of destroying urban spaces for the convenience of suburbanites is long over. The city that I love and enjoy today would've been thoroughly destroyed had it not been for the heroic anti-highway protestors of the time. Instead of a more extensive highway system, we need to focus on expanding the breath and frequency of the Regional Rail system. 15 minute headways between Norristown and Center City, for example, would do more to remove cars from local roads than another highway could ever accomplish.

I totally agree... Philadelphia stands tall among the very few major cities in this country that have eschewed massive neighborhood-splitting (and destroying) ribbons of freeway concrete. Philly has maintained one of the country's few extremely robust legacy rail transit networks serving both the city and (deep into the) suburbs. Yes, regional rail needs to be updated with complete high-platform boarding throughout and more frequent service... but this is coming. The historic neighborhood, forest and parkland grid of Philadelphia, and much of its scenic countryside remains intact. To hell w/ massive freeway networks.

Good for Philadelphia!

[toobusytoday]

Please note that this thread was started in 2013