• Are highways important for NYC?

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    Highways have played a significant role in the economic and structural development of New York City. According to a discussion between and , highways have brought substantial economic gains, with seven of the top ten most valuable highway segments in the United States located in the NYC area. They highlighted that the expansion of the Long Island Expressway alone had an estimated economic value of $719 million annually 1.

    Robert Moses, a key figure in NYC's infrastructure development, was instrumental in this process. Moses's controversial methods included ignoring mass transit in favor of highways, but his projects like the Cross Bronx Expressway were seen as necessary for the city's functionality, despite the social costs 2 3. Moreover, Jackson argues that Moses's contributions helped NYC avoid the fate of other declining Rust Belt cities, underscoring the importance of his work in maintaining NYC's status as a global leader 4.

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