Environmental Justice, the Flip Side

When we talk about environmental justice we usually talk about those communities disproportionately hurt by injustices of pollution or lack of resources and infrastructure. While these are the pressing issues of environmental justice, I recently noticed an overly privileged area that is unjust on the other end of the spectrum.

I'm talking about I-90 through Mercer Island. It's still a freeway, but it's as nice of a freeway as possible.

I-90 through Mercer Island

I don't know where I first heard the Seattle lore that the only condition under which Mercer Islanders would allow the freeway to be built across their island was to have express lanes to Seattle. It seems to me there were a lot of other conditions too or at least the community had a lot of influence over the freeway design. Remember that in almost all cases freeways completely avoided wealthy areas but in this case it was a necessary route. While sitting in traffic, I couldn't help but notice a few nice features that the Islanders received.

1. Below-grade roadway allows for multiple overpasses, nearly every block in the core area and, I bet, reduces noise.
2. Nice landscaping along edges and overpasses absorbs air pollution and mitigates noise and visual impact.
3. Complete lid where the freeway goes through a tunnel with a park on top.
4. HOV lane exit in addition to express lanes to Seattle.

Imagine if every freeway were as well designed as this stretch of I-90. We take for granted how destructive freeways are to the communities they go through. Mercer Island shows us that it doesn't have to be quite so bad, and in places where freeways go through wealthy communities, it isn't.