The Freeway Revolts
After World War II, the San Francisco Planning Commission proposed many projects for redeveloping parts of the city. Like many American cities at the time, they viewed highway construction as a major infrastructural enhancement. A 1949 San Francisco Trafficways Plan shows a web of proposed freeways that would have split the city into seven or eight portions—dividing some neighborhoods and existing public transit routes. However, in what is now known as the “Freeway Revolts,” many progressive San Franciscans banded together to prevent the plan from being fulfilled. Many projects were cancelled altogether, while others were begun and then paused. The Embarcadero Freeway in particular was halted during this time, and then finally demolished almost 40 years after its construction. This drove up land values along the Waterfront greatly, and even allowed for a historic cable car route to go back in along that top corner of the city. Because the Embarcadero’s destruction opened up land aside from the immediate Waterfront area (like South Beach, for example), many also believe it was a catalyst for overall neighborhood renewal in the 90s and 2000s, and in some cases, for gentrification.
Overall, the obstruction of these highways was pivotal in maintaining the strong interconnectivity of the city (first established with the cable car system, and later with bus and municipal rail). The lack of highways—and the accompanying public transit and high density this affords—has arguably been a factor keeping land values high within the city. The freeway revolt also put pressure on expanding regional public transit options, which ultimately led to the implementation of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) in the 70s. Keeping highways out of a large part of the city was critical to boosting tourism and overall city growth in the last part of the 20th century.
Overall, the obstruction of these highways was pivotal in maintaining the strong interconnectivity of the city (first established with the cable car system, and later with bus and municipal rail). The lack of highways—and the accompanying public transit and high density this affords—has arguably been a factor keeping land values high within the city. The freeway revolt also put pressure on expanding regional public transit options, which ultimately led to the implementation of the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) in the 70s. Keeping highways out of a large part of the city was critical to boosting tourism and overall city growth in the last part of the 20th century.
Scroll over each image to learn more about the spatial implications of the San Francisco Freeway Revolts.