Carol Becker Longfellow
Wrote:
vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increasing over 50% during the same period
VMT continues to grow beyond any demographic or economic trend because most new places being built in the twin cities metro area are completely auto-dependent. For anyone who thinks that we HAVE to build highways, I encourage you to visit Toronto, Canada or Portland, Oregon. In Toronto, only one major freeway was carved through the old city. All subsequent freeway proposals were defeated. The result is truly like a "parallel universe" http://www.kunstler.com/mags_jacobs1.htm .
In, Portland, geographic luck and the political climate made freeway building difficult. An old highway along the Willamatte river was even torn down to make a park. Portland is probably the most walkable, transit friendly, and beautiful newer cities in America.
Living in Longfellow, it must be clearly visible by walking a few blocks the difference between older city infrastructure: corner stores, buildings fronting the street, versus highways and highway dependent infrastructure, with large parking lots (like the giant target strip mall east of lake and hiawatha) at massive public and private expense.
Mike Jensvold East Isles
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