As President Biden's term winds down, his ambitious project to remove inner-city highways and reconnect divided communities hangs in the balance, with funding delays and the possibility of a Trump presidency threatening its progress.
Mike Lee reports for E&E News.
In short:
- Biden's administration aims to remove highways that split neighborhoods in the 1950s and ’60s, aiming to create jobs and reduce emissions.
- Progress has been slow, with only a small portion of the allocated $4.2 billion in grants having been spent.
- A potential Trump administration could redirect or obstruct the funding, endangering ongoing and planned projects.
Key quote:
“There is racism physically built into some of our highways.”
— Pete Buttigieg, Transportation Secretary
Why this matters:
Those highways didn’t just slice through cities—they sliced through lives, splitting communities, and leaving scars that have lasted generations. Replacing these concrete behemoths with green spaces and walkable streets is a step towards environmental justice, giving urban areas a breath of fresh air and a chance to thrive. Read more: Black communities must lead the charge to repair harm from freeways.
