Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Cities With the Most Highway Miles: a “Who’s Who” of Decay

This is fascinating. Using data from the FHWA, the esteemed Patrick Kennedy at Network blog Walkable Dallas Fort Worth has cobbled together a list of the American cities with the highest number of estimated highway lane miles per capita.

See if you notice any similarities (this is per 1,000 people):

1. Kansas City - 1.262
2. St Louis - 1.070
3. Houston - .822
4. Cleveland - .816
5. Columbus - .779
6. San Antonio - .759
7. Jacksonville - .745
8. Providence - .742
9. Pittsburgh - .731
10. Baltimore - .724
11. DFW - .719

"It's like a who's who of decaying or soon to decay cities," says Kennedy.

Now let's look at Kennedy's list of the ten cities with the least highway miles per capita:

1. Chicago
2. Tampa/St.Pete - wouldn't want too many octogenarians out on the road anyway.
3. Miami - surprising. No worries, MIA will rectify this as soon as they expand I-95 to 40 lanes (this was really once an idea).
4. NYC/Newark
5. Portland
6. Sacramento
7. Phoenix
8. LA
9. Philly
10. DC

It's not a perfect sync, and the data is rough around the edges, but in general the cities in the second group seem to be faring much better than the first group. Think of the policy implications this raises. It points to a strategy that would be nearly the opposite of the way our state DOT-led transportation system favors highway expansion over smaller grid-level interventions and transit improvements.

The scary thing is a lot of politicians who wield power over the cities in the first list (ahem, John Kasich) still call highway building "economic development." What are these cities going to do when they lose more people and all of a sudden federal money isn't there for repairs?

Elsewhere on the Network today: Free Public Transit reports that car makers, especially those working on electric vehicles, continue to rake in subsidies. And Greater Greater Washington analyzes a local pedestrian safety campaign and finds it lacking.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

AG James Sues Trump Over ‘Strong-Arm’ Tactic of Tying DOT Funds to Immigration Crackdown

The U.S. Department of Transportation is illegally threatening to withhold billions in transportation funding to states that don't "cooperate" with the administration's immigration crackdown, a new suit argues.

May 13, 2025

How the Sausage Gets Made: Republicans Force Meaningless Vote on Congestion Pricing Repeal

... And will the Idaho Stop become a victim of the current bikelash? It's all in today's Capitol Idea by Amy Sohn.

May 13, 2025

‘Chaos’ Candidate? DoorDash Gave $1M to Super PAC Backing Cuomo, Who Decries Delivery Workers

Cuomo says he'll fix the chaos on the Streets by reining in app companies, but DoorDash just donated $1 million to help him win.

May 13, 2025

The Dave Colon Challenge: Whitney Tilson Is Pro-Bike, Pro-Business And Pro-Police

The political novice has 30 years experience cycling in the city but doesn't have a political record to help predict what his safe streets governance strategy would be.

May 13, 2025

Can New York City Fix Its Deadly ‘Conduit’ to JFK Airport?

The extra-wide medians on Conduit could fit 46 football fields, which combined with extra-wide travel lanes makes the strip prone to speeding and crashes.

May 13, 2025
See all posts