Published Nov 11, 2024

Why Do We Keep Widening Highways If It Doesn’t Reduce Traffic?

Journalist Megan Kimble and host Ira Flatow delve into the paradox of highway widening, revealing how such projects increase traffic congestion through induced demand, and their negative environmental impacts. They discuss historical and modern resistance to these expansions, the contradictions with climate goals, and suggest sustainable alternatives like public transit investment.

Episode Highlights

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How does the plan tackle climate change?
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Why Do We Keep Widening Highways If It Doesn’t Reduce Traffic?

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Climate and Transportation

Highway Expansion Costs

Urban Highways' Impact

Freeway Revolts Today

Highway Widening Myths

Highway Reclamation

Highway Expansion Resistance

Questions from this episode

How does the plan tackle climate change?

Episode Highlights

Highway Expansion

Induced Demand

Environmental Concerns

Freeway Revolts

Related Episodes

How Congestion Pricing Can Impact Human Health

Why Are There So Many Drug Shortages In The U.S.?

Why Is Solving The Plastic Problem So Hard?

High-Speed Rail Gets A Boost In The U.S.

Carbon Cost Of Urban Gardens And Commercial Farms | Why There's No Superbloom This Year

How Trees Keep D.C. And Baltimore Cool

How Can Iowa’s Agriculture Adapt To Climate Threats?

Why Eels Are So Mysterious—And In Demand

Why Does COVID-19 Spike In Summer?

Asheville Was Never A ‘Climate Haven.’ Nowhere Is.

One Crisis After Another: Designing Cities For Resiliency

20 Years Later, How Are City Climate Plans Actually Going?

How Climate Change Is Changing Sports

How To Recycle Rare Earth Elements

The Complicated Truths About Offshore Wind And Right Whales

Why Do We Keep Widening Highways If It Doesn’t Reduce Traffic?

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Questions from this episode

Episode Highlights

Highway Expansion

Induced DemandMegan Kimble discusses the paradox of highway widening, where increased lanes often lead to more traffic congestion due to induced demand. She explores case studies like the Katy Freeway to illustrate the ineffectiveness of such expansions and the environmental implications.

Induced Demand

Environmental Concerns

Freeway RevoltsMegan Kimble explores the resurgence of freeway revolts and the modern movements against highway expansions. She highlights historical resistance and current efforts to reclaim urban spaces by removing highways.

Freeway Revolts

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