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This Vox video examines why highway expansion makes traffic worse for commuters, opening with the example of Houston's Katy Freeway.
The video describes some alternative approaches that may provide some solutions, including improving public transit options, enacting policies to disincentivize people from using highways, and removing highways altogether.
This video is a great resource for explaining the complicated phenomenon of "induced demand," when increasing the availability of highway lanes actually does not solve the problem of traffic congestion.
This video can be a great case study for students to investigate relevant policies that are impacting climate change.
Additional Prerequisites
An understanding of basic economic principles, such as supply and demand, would be helpful.
Consider introducing the term "induced demand" before viewing the video.
Differentiation
This is a great video to incorporate into science classes, economics classes, or history classes because it discusses the environmental, social, and political aspects of the transportation problems we currently face in the United States.
Other related resources include this video about highway removal, this video about road diets, and this video about a woman who lives car-free.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Related Teaching Resources
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
