Why the U.S Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 Was Racist

10/09/22

“Why was the U.S Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 racist?”

In 1956, the United States Congress passed the Federal Highway Act. This act allocated 25 billion USD for the design and construction of 66,000 km (41,000 miles) of the interstate highway system with a timeframe of 10 years. Since highways cut off and pollute surrounding neighborhoods, these highways were routed through neighborhoods of color (especially Black majority ones) to keep the residents segregated and disenfranchised. The impacts can still be seen to this day, where wall-like highways surround Black and Brown neighborhoods such as West Oakland. This is Why the U.S Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 Was Racist.

• Engineering
• Policy
• Urban Systems