Charlotte Confronts Big Asphalt

Like most of the United States, Charlotte, North Carolina relies heavily on auto infrastructure. This may not change soon: "Despite some of the steps Charlotte has taken toward a 'little asphalt' mindset – think reducing the number of East Boulevard lanes, the streetcar, the Blue Line extension and more bike lanes – this remains largely a car town."

Author Ely Portillo writes, "I have family in southeast Charlotte, a 30-minute drive from where I live, and if widening Independence Boulevard would cut that time even five minutes, well, that sounds pretty attractive to me – even if it's not a long-term solution to sprawl." Residents are used to free parking, and concerns about traffic lessen the attraction of policies like complete streets and traffic calming.

Reasons in favor of more 'little asphalt' in Charlotte apply across the country:

• Increased interest in urban life among (some, not all) Millennials and empty-nest Boomers.
• Sprawl and car-heavy infrastructure degrades the environment on a number of levels.
• Grids of smaller roads may reduce traffic by diverting it, rather than relying on one or two clogged arterials.