Problem: The Boston Central Artery, the stretch of Interstate 93 which runs through central Boston, is badly overcrowded. In addition, it cuts the city in half, disrupting vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the downtown area. Proposed Solution: The plan is to replace the current Central Artery with a wider, underground highway. The area above the new road will become an open space cutting through the city, with parks and some limited residential and commercial development. Transit connections will be improved. Funding will come from the state and the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Act. Evaluation: The project is still in the planning stages. The project will clearly improve traffic capacity, as well as provide employment over the six years of construction. Problems are also developing. After objections from Cambridge, one of the entry/exit points had to be redesigned, increasing the cost of construction. The utilities which run under the downtown area must be dug up and relocated. The proximity to Boston Harbor necessitates environmental planning and special disposal for polluted harbor mud. In addition, some theories of road use predict that the larger highway will simply increase demand and thus produce no overall improvement in the traffic situation. The overall economic cost of the current situation, however, is such that the traffic alleviation plan is necessary. Contacts: Citation: "Cities and Highways: Starting All Over." Governing Magazine, Volume 5, July 1992, pp. 56-61.