Eryngo Urbanism
November 3, 2023

Should Urban Freeways Be Demolished?

description

San Francisco's Embarcadero Freeway was one of the most hated highways since it was first built in the city. It destroyed the city's historic waterfront, blocked the view of an urban landmark, the ferry building, and ultimately served as a loud, polluting nightmare for the city. Its construction was an environmental and urban design misstep. Ultimately, the freeway was removed as a result of public and environmental pressures. Today, rapid transit is available via BART's transbay subway tube, creating a rapid connection between San Francisco and Oakland.

attributions

SPECIAL THANKS

Alexander Crisler, provided current footage of SF

HISTORIC FOOTAGE

General footage: https://archive.org/details/0618_Vista_Stock_Shots_San_Francisco_Scenics_and_Long_Shots_02_00_57_0

Chinatown Earthquake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEQj4_GasrY

Malvina Reynolds Cement Octopus (removed for copyright reasons): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKqZmYE-yI8

SF Ferries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8uyFZOf8DM

Scenes of SF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQZuB95eu6A

Bay Bridge Opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngpm4-4Chmk

BART Historic Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=247JT7ctQ_I

BART Tunnel Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Jrp6it9Ss&t=229s

Transcontinental RR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRO3Kxy5NG4

WORKS CITED

“Bridge Proclamations.” The Emperor Norton Trust, http://emperornortontrust.org/bridge/ proclamations.

Carlsson, Chris. “The Freeway Revolt.” FoundSF, https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=The_ Freeway_Revolt.

“The Ferry Building Story.” San Francisco Ferry Building, Ferry Building Marketplace, 2 Feb. 2022, https://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/about/.

Laubscher, Rick. “Coming to Town.” Market Street Railway, 24 Apr. 2022, https://www.streetcar.org/coming-to-town/.

Rosato, Joe. “The Loma Prieta Earthquake and the Freeway Wars.” NBC Bay Area, 18 Oct. 2019, https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/the-loma-prieta-earthquake-and-the- freeway-wars/1948520/. Accessed 7 May 2023.

Schafer, Scott. “Rose Pak, S.F. Chinatown Political Leader, Dies at 68.” KQED, 19 Sept. 2016, https://www.kqed.org/news/11094253/rose-pak-chinatown-dynamo-opened-doors-for-asians. Accessed 7 May 2023.

“Statistics & Ridership.” Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, https://www.goldengate.org/ferry/history-research/statistics-ridership/.

United States, Congress, De Leuw Cather & Co, and Ladislas Segoe. Comprehensive Trafficways Plan, 1948.

WPA, Federal Writers Project. San Francisco in the 1930s: The WPA Guide to the City by the Bay. University of California Press, 2011.

MUSIC (CHRONOLOGICAL)

The Truth - Anno Domini Beats

Colour Of Your Face - NoMBe

Hot Coffee - Patrick Patrikios

Cheel - Blue Dream

Verified Picasso - Fish Room

Instant Crush - Corbyn Kites

transcript

No transcript available at this time.