Among the many projects Robert Moses brought to completion, the Cross Bronx Expressway was one with many negative repercussions. This freeway, blamed for cutting the Bronx in half and causing the migration of thousands of residents at the time it was built, is now considered the “most congested urban roadway in the country.” With an average of about 20 miles per hour during rush hour, it is clear how much of an issue this road is, especially because it is unavoidable due to its connections between states.
In 2017 Mayor DeBlasio declared the Cross Bronx his personal nemesis and established his interest in resolving this problem. Although he considered it his “white whale,” he said how the city and state authorities both contribute responsibility for highways in NY, but, that he will be incorporating this issue into his plan. However, will a plan for just fixing this freeway be enough? At the end of the article, Matt Chabad mentions how the issue itself is larger than just decongesting a highway, and that DeBlasio should set his sights on the expansion and betterment of public transportation in NYC as a whole.
This problem directly relates to Robert Moses on a larger scale than just the Cross Bronx Expressway. Moses conducted many of his projects in a manner that benefitted those who had private transportation (cars) and disregarded or was ignorant of the needs of those who relied on public transportation. This is one reason the Cross Bronx, among many other roads, is at its current state of congestion. A way to resolve this issue is to attack at the root of the problem like Matt Chabad suggested. Doing so could potentially lessen the number of people on the freeway by giving more access to public transportation.
Questions:
- What areas of NYC do you think need more access to mass transit?
- How do urban planners consider all factors when deciding where a road should be built?
- Do roads dictate social status in society, or does social status dictate where roads are built?
The Cross Bronx Expressway (shown below)
Article used:
https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170222/claremont/bill-de-blasio-cross-bronx-expressway-comments/
