How America's Mayors Are Fighting Back Against Harmful Highways (Andy Schor)

How America's Mayors Are Fighting Back Against Harmful Highways (Andy Schor)

Author: StreetsblogUSA October 29, 2024 Duration: 20:52

Highways and other federal transportation investments have destroyed neighborhoods of color across America, even as the current presidential administration attempts to heal those wounds through grants like the Reconnecting Communities Program. But what is it like to actually be a local leader fighting to win that money  — especially when the sheer volume of disconnected communities makes the competition dauntingly steep? 

On this episode of The Brake —and our first dispatch from Bloomberg Citylab 2024 — we sat down with Lansing, Mich. Mayor Andy Schor, who's going above and beyond to win his town the money it needs to address the harms caused by Interstate 496, whose construction claimed more than 800 homes and businessess and even the dirt on which they sat. And along the way, we talk about how local officials and advocates can play a bigger role in resisting bad highway projects, and how mayors are exchanging tools to help in the fight. 

Listen in, and read interviews with three other small-city mayors who are getting into the federal grant game with the help of experts at the Local Infrastructure Hub. 


You hear a lot about electric cars and futuristic transit, but what about the fundamental shift required to build cities where driving isn't a daily necessity? That's the terrain explored on The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast. Hosted by the team at StreetsblogUSA, this series moves beyond the headlines to engage with the activists, planners, writers, and community members who are actively reimagining American streets. Each conversation digs into the real-world work of dismantling car dependency, examining the policy choices, cultural norms, and historical decisions that got us here. The discussions are grounded in the intersecting categories of society, commentary, culture, and news, offering a nuanced lens on everything from bike lane debates and public transit equity to the subtle ways our built environment shapes daily life. This isn't just a technical talk about infrastructure; it's about the human stories and the political movement fighting for safer, more connected, and less congested communities. Tune in for a podcast that acts as a vital pit stop for understanding the complex, often frustrating, but ultimately hopeful push to take our foot off the gas and build a different future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 89

The Brake: A Streetsblog Podcast
Podcast Episodes
How a 'Universal Basic Neighborhood' Can Help Americans Live Longer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:24
The idea of providing a "universal basic income" to ensure every U.S. resident can afford the fundamentals is gaining traction with the rise of AI. But even that much-needed money might not guarantee much of a life to pe…
How to Tell the Story of a Highway Teardown (Ian Coss) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:59
Highway teardowns are messy, multi-decade projects that spark countless debates and competing narratives — even among livable streets advocates who broadly agree that replacing autocentric infrastructure is a good idea.…
What It Takes To Map Every Sidewalk In Your State (Dr. Anat Caspi) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:43
Washington State is on the brink of completing America's first comprehensive, statewide inventory of every single sidewalk and pedestrian path — and along with it, a collection of tools that make it easy for transportati…
Five 'Supercool' Transportation Founders to Watch in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:19
How can transportation start-ups help fight climate change, and who are the leaders pushing them forward? We sat down with Josh Dorfman, host of the podcast 'Supercool', to talk about what he's learned from interviewing…
How to Be a Better Transportation Advocate (Carter Lavin) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:59
There's a big difference between knowing what is best of your city's transportation system, and knowing how to fight the often fierce political battles you need to win in order to make it real. Fortunately, one author ha…
Is a 'Life After Cars' Really Possible? (Sarah Goodyear) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:59
What will it take to wake more of the world up to the dangers of mass automobility — and could a book be help Americans imagine a future beyond car dominance? That's what Sarah Goodyear and her co-authors are hoping as t…