Paved Roads and Public Money: Connecticut Transportation in the Age of Internal Combustion

The real title of many history books is actually the subtitle, while colorful phrase before colon merely decorative. Examples that come to mind include Blood in Water, Our Beloved Kin, and What Hath God Wrought, titles barely hint at what lies between book covers. Not so with Richard DeLuca's Paved Roads Public Money: Connecticut Transportation Age Internal Combustion. This does deal broadly transportation since 1890s, but its emphasis on building highways public funds.Paved Money sequel 2011 study, Post & Iron Horses: from Colonial Times Steam, which took story Native American footpaths dominance steam-powered railroad late nineteenth century. new tracks work Department predecessors creation first state Highway Commission 1895. There also an introductory chapter use manufacture bicycles Connecticut, a longer interlude Connecticut's contributions invention airplanes. research draws documents newspaper articles.As DeLuca points out, it very nature create spatial connections, one cannot be disentangled general. particularly true whose economy has historically been linked Boston New York, railroads are essential corridors these metropolitan hubs. Further, subject intersects, as this book, issues technological change, business expansion, urban suburban development, environmental damage. conclusion highlights three main “thematic elements” run through his two volumes: land, technology, law, each them subdivided into five distinct points. Amid all complexity, trend seems pre-eminent: declares “the reversal government's relationship began 1920s was completed 1960s most fundamental fact gleaned transportation.” (149)After early pages bicycle, notes return last privately owned turnpike control 1897. He traces highway “trunk line system” major routes, significant federal aid 1916. expanding automobiles demanded constant improvements. overburdened corridor York Haven drew particular attention planned built Merritt Parkway, section opened 1938. By then, officials had already begun planning Wilbur Cross parkway highway, ultimately extended Massachusetts Union. network superhighways, important “Connecticut Turnpike,” today's I-95 I-395. State funded tax revenue, then supplemented by tolls, bonded indebtedness, funds, especially after passage Federal Aid Act 1956. describes political administrative challenges expressway projects detail. corrupt financial shenanigans Parkway project, cost extra millions landed state's purchasing agent prison.Expressway construction continued unabated 1950s 1960s, contributing redistribution population clusters sprawl. Readers interested routes they regularly travel will find information text appendices. I Hartford area projects, included deplorable original interchange I-84 I-91, aesthetically sensitive widening Bulkeley Bridge, abortive proposal tunnel under Bushnell Park. West activists helped inaugurate era 1970s when prevented I-291 along town's western edge, where would have threatened purity Hartford's reservoirs. Another grassroots effort blocked I-86 Greater Providence.Examining perspective road builders, pays limited ordinary people. It easy forget, reading daily twentieth century often involved trolley or interurban electric line. Dense webs trolleys covered city, towns Greenwich Enfield Thompson. demise noted only briefly volume. minimal coverage water transportation.The chapter, “A Monopoly,” examines modes shaped policy. Railroad's death throes post-war decades management commuter trains regional bus districts areas once served trolleys. final consider proposals expand passenger train service even struggles maintain existing bridges.The twentieth-century government-funded paved roads may retrospect seem blunder hacked up beautiful countryside contributed climate change. Yet seemed different people time. Driving private car struck liberating experience, freeing their grip monopolistic Railroad subsidiary, Company. While providing excellent overview policy, not explore felt about rise money.