Station 6: Case studies of urban freeways

Here is what others have said about this case study:

LikesDislike

  • It would be helpful to graphically overlay and equivalent up-to-date interchange over the existing I-81/690 interchange
  • Great - keeps critical functionality
  • Replace viaduct and make it more attractive
  • Confronts the idea that highways are generally not very attractive
  • It works! Re-build to today's standards
  • This works because traffic patterns remained the same but safer with upgrade
  • Public art included!
  • Community involvement
  • I think I-81 should be repaired.
  • Best choice for efficiency and fuel.
  • Well, it does allow for traffic flow.
  • Like the attractive ways of making the interstate appealing from below/non-drivers.
  • Consider more that just traffic flow models/#s - can't bury it, so make it look better.
  • Moves cars. Keeps off streets for pedestrian traffic.
  • Need raised highway for traffic flow on "Interstate Highway".
  • Design flaw I-81 to 690 from Harrison St. Dangerous to navigate. Also need a connector from I-81 north of Carousel to 690 west at end of lake.
  • I don't have all day to sit in traffic.
  • OK, but we need more green infrastructure to collect run off and reduce the flow into Onondaga Lake.
  • I think a more elevated choice would be attractive.
  • Out of town visitors to my family often comment: It is so awesome driving to Syracuse because the highway goes right through the city. It's exciting to see the buildings lit up. It's close to your house.
  • It's tall - similar to more modern designs out west. If it is really tall, it can "divide the community" less, but still be effective.
  • Gets rid of the eyesore of the I-81 highway and makes the community more attractive.
  • Raise it higher and make it look elegant!
  • Makes commuting through city easier.
  • More attractive. Retains existing 81 - interstate travel.
  • I-81 works where it is. Update it and let it be.
  • I like this because it keeps the highway intact and allows for sunlight to get in.
  • It is convenient. Our highways enable me to get anywhere in the greater Syracuse area within 15 minutes.
  • I like the artwork and other design elements that were used
  • Rebuild what we have, three lanes though
  • Yes, the cheapest and best solution for north, south, and interchange. It is an interstate for through traffic. Its purpose - keep it.
  • It is more attractive It included community involvement
  • Openness to the idea that a highway itself can be beautiful. I have seen some incredibly beautiful flyovers and interchanges, in California among other places. This reconstructed interchange appears to me to be an esthetic enhancement. Minimal impacts on other parts of the city. In Syracuse, a reconstructed viaduct would have the advantage of not requiring additional building demolitions, or other disruptions of the rest of the city and surroundings (at least after a limited period of disruptive construction)
  • Could be visually attractive - Like the concept of public art and other visual amenities but start with picking up existing trash on existing road.
  • This I like. It would be the least disruptive to construct and continue the first class access to the hospitals, etc.
  • This is definitely a new idea - the height makes the area below usable and walkable
  • "Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater". Tweak the present pattern to improve small problems (e.g. crossover from I-81 N to I-690E)
  • Aesthetic design focus
  • Probably the best for us
  • Brand new of same thing! Makes it better and keeps its best aspects
  • I like this because would keep I-81 flowing north to south - much better visual aspect
  • The stack would provide for easier flowing traffic at high speeds
  • From the parking lot across the street this plan seemed like an attractive structural element. Not offensive at all
  • Keeps traffic moving for univ & downtown.
  • The Marquette Interchange is certainly more visually attractive and less stressful for drivers than before reconstruction. I also suspect that accident rates have fallen, reflecting more rational traffic patterns and flows.

  • I would hate to walk or bike underneath this!
  • Do not like barrier at all
  • Don't like the barrier effect
  • Still a barrier
  • From the air is an ugly spaghetti junction. SYR is a smaller city; get creative! Noise.
  • As Billy would say "It's HUGE Syracuse"
  • Keeps up the barrier; high cost solution to local traffic issue
  • Continuation of elevated highway
  • It maintains the wall and barrier that exists currently, and doesn't show any wisdom and interest in community and neighborhood development
  • Not clear as to what the "reconstruction" involved so I can't offer pro or con comments.
  • Reconstructing won't change anything, even if wider you are messing with neighborhoods.
  • Doesn't remove the "barrier" that I-81 creates.
  • It keeps the community split up and fails to address major congestion problems around the University and Medical Center.
  • Is it going to continue to have the same problem of structure?
  • Maintains "barrier" in city. Cost more to rebuild. Cost more to maintain. Excessive speeds in area. New structure would have to be larger to meet new standards.
  • We are missing an opportunity to IMPROVE our community and overall quality of life.
  • Traffic moves too fast through the city.
  • Don't like. In order to remake I-81-690 intersection. too many buildings would have to come down. If interesection is not expanded, some hazards remain.
  • I don't like this because I can't see where oversized vehicles can travel and not get stuck under the highway or some bridges.
  • Still leave a poor urban environment.
  • "Pleasing design" only to someone who designs highways.
  • Eliminates/shuts off traffic from city - bad for improving city economy.
  • Painting steel different colors doesn't solve any problems
  • What was land use beneath the interchange? Was it perceived to split the city as it does here?
  • Doesn't seem like it would have any impacts aside from highway safety.
  • It becomes more safe for the community. It costs more to keep the highway up. Costs less to just tear it down and create a blvd.
  • This design would STILL facilitate separation/division that the current design does. It is inhumane.
  • Not completely applicable to Syracuse since this only involves an interchange and not the complete arterial.
  • Still just a big mass of concrete
  • The Syracuse highway would not be put where it is now if it was being proposed today. I do not see how this section of I-81 improves the city. Don't rebuild something because of some past flawed idea.
  • It left the dividing highway dividing the city Major alterations not considered
  • Retaining, or even increasing, the dependence on traffic based on internal combustion engines. Therefore, continued problems with downtown pollution from transportation.
  • In Syracuse, retaining an un-covered highway means retaining a big snow removal problem during winter. Covering the highway--either elevated or underground will result in a huge savings during winter, and a great reduction in the hazards of accumulated snow and ice, as well as slow-moving plows and salt trucks during rush hour.
  • Can't think of one thing nice to say
  • Still unsightly, divisive, not pedestrian friendly. Where is the "new idea" here?
  • Still a psychological barrier
  • Does not change anything. Poor use of tax dollars. Duplicates existing I-481. More maintenance $$
  • Catering to motorist has gotten us into this mess. Healthy cities do not allow themselves to be chopped up for the benefit of suburban automobile commuters
  • Still keeps traffic flowing thru city - pollution - speed.
  • It uses up valuable urban space and is visually awful. It still divides the city.
  • No! This is not addressing all of the problems 81 causes.
  • This solution compounds the problem with both physical division and unsightly design
  • The use of this type of bridge would mean city streets would never get plowed - workers would have to spend all their time trying to plow this spider.
  • It doesn't solve any problems for pedestrians, and it's still ugly
  • The highway is still unsightly
  • Divides the city, ugly
  • Not a great solution - still allows a huge intrusion into the city skyline - celebrates cars not people
  • Why? Huge opportunity lost
  • The design still is a blight on the downtown. Replacing a 1 out of 10 with a 2 is technically more attractive but it is still ugly.
  • Reconstructing the viaduct to the new highway standards would mean potential demolition of more buildings downtown to smooth out curves
  • The would only replace what we have without improving the city's aesthetics and environment
  • Do not like. No new ideas! Just a rebuild
  • This solution only appears to address cars/traffic - consideration for pedestrians appears minimal, weak or non-existant
  • Lacks greenspace
  • The reconstruction project really did nothing to alleviate the broader problem of vehicle miles traveled, commuting and intercity travel patterns, fuel consumption and GHG emission, land use, etc. These issues, of course, would have been impossible to address by means of a "single point" project, but we need to keep them in mind when looking at I-81.
  • This doesn't seem like a great idea for Syracuse and has few similarities to the challenges that face I-81. In my opinion, the new interchange still looks ugly and appears like it will do little to revitalize the areas around the highway.