Express Highway Planning in Metropolitan Areas

Abstract

Perhaps, the need for free-flowing highway facilities to relieve traffic congestion in cities is evident, but attention is focused on this need by the superior facilities available on arterial routes in rural areas as compared with those in urban areas. The factors that influence the locations of arterial routes in cities and their effect on the city plan are discussed. The need for obtaining factual data is emphasized and the pattern of arterial routes developed in representative cities is shown. Brief comment is included on the subjects of by-passes versus radial routes, the need for flexibility, the use of existing streets, and the terminal problem. Relative merits of different types of expressways are presented. The need for, and description of, preliminary engineering reports to unite the numerous interested agencies are detailed, and an economic analysis of each project is suggested.