More Highways, More Pollution

Road-Building and Air Pollution in America's Cities

While stronger regulations have resulted in cars that are far cleaner than those of three decades ago, the air in many American cities remains dangerous to breathe. The reason: Americans are driving more miles than ever before and that additional driving is spurred in part by the expansion of America's highway network, which is one of the major causes of suburban sprawl. More Highways, More Pollution finds that American cities with the largest highway networks per capita also tend to be those with the greatest air pollution and warns that further highway expansion could lead to additional air pollution and threats to public health.

While stronger regulations have resulted in cars that are far cleaner than those of three decades ago, the air in many American cities remains dangerous to breathe. The reason: Americans are driving more miles than ever before and that additional driving is spurred in part by the expansion of America’s highway network, which is one of the major causes of suburban sprawl. More Highways, More Pollution finds that American cities with the largest highway networks per capita also tend to be those with the greatest air pollution and warns that further highway expansion could lead to additional air pollution and threats to public health.

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Tony Dutzik

Associate Director and Senior Policy Analyst, Frontier Group

Tony Dutzik is associate director and senior policy analyst with Frontier Group. His research and ideas on climate, energy and transportation policy have helped shape public policy debates across the U.S., and have earned coverage in media outlets from the New York Times to National Public Radio. A former journalist, Tony lives and works in Boston.

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