Which cities have the fewest freeways/expressways for their size? (metro, largest)
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Sort of the opposite of the largest freeways debate. The city of Vancouver famously only has a short length of freeway within its city limits, with no freeways in its downtown core, and a limited freeway network across the metro area as a whole.
What are some other US/Canadian cities with limited freeway networks for their size, relative to their peer population cities?
The Pacific NW cities, Miami, Tampa, Las Vegas, Chicagoland do not have much in terms of "freeway" systems relative to their metro size
Most of Canada doesnt really do the freeway thing except Toronto if i recall
I like the feeling of driving on a bustling freeway as you near a city's downtown..I know Vancouver has alot of opponents against freeways, but they have some neat bridges as you enter the city core so it has that element instead
how they degrade property value, promote traffic congestion, create an eyesore, etc. When the Interstate 880 (a big ugly double-decker freeway) in San Francisco collapsed during the 1989 earthquake for example, they decided not to rebuild it. Which turned out to be a very wise decision. Vancouver is mentioned as another example.
Winnipeg only has a highway that goes around the edge of the urban area, nothing going inside it. London is the next biggest urban area in Canada without a highway, although the 401 goes beside it.
I believe Lake County IL, though almost entirely suburban, makes the list. Population 703K, only about 30 miles of expressway, mostly toll. The widest portions are 8 lanes, so it is about on par with the rest of the region, and well below such areas as Boston, which is not thought of as freeway-laden. Length of commuter rail lines, about 70.
Last edited by pvande55; 12-20-2011 at 04:44 PM..
Reason: Add note on rail
Montreal has a more elaborate freeway system than Toronto. Despite it's old hisotric sections, Quebec City's suburbs are a maze of freeways.
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