MnDOT: Stop Imagining a World Without Urban Interstates

Wedge LIVE!

John is joined by Yasmin Hirsi and Alex Burns of Our Streets Minnesota for a conversation in reaction to the Minnesota Department of Transportation announcing they will not include interstate removal as one of five options for further study when it comes to the future of I-94. We talk about the "up is down, black is white" analysis MnDOT is using (Urban interstate removal causes more air and noise pollution? Urban interstate removal is more dangerous for people biking, walking, and driving? What?).

A recent former commissioner of MnDOT characterized the construction of I-94 this way: “we would never, we could never, build that kind of atrocity today." The historic harms, the racist effect and intent, the ongoing pollution, health and economic impact to people who had no say over I-94's construction or its imminent reconstruction, the flaws in MnDOT's analysis -- are well documented. So how come removal doesn't make the cut for further study?

Our Streets Minnesota is asking people to get involved and contact state and local officials:

https://www.ourstreetsmn.org/2024/12/20/mndot-plans-on-eliminating-boulevard-options-ignoring-elected-officials-and-community/

Recent coverage:

"Little ‘Rethinking’ Went into Rethinking I-94"

https://streets.mn/2024/12/30/little-rethinking-went-into-rethinking-i-94/

"Rethinking Interstate 94 traffic modeling and the status quo"

https://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2024/12/rethinking-interstate-94-traffic-modeling-and-the-status-quo/

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