In last week’s Dead Freeways article and on the blog I talked about freeway godfather Robert Moses’ 1943 plan for the city of Portland.

After the article came out, a couple people (nerds) asked if I could get them a copy of Moses’ 89-page, spiral bound plan to look through at their leisure. But I didn’t even have an actual copy of the plan—I was lucky enough to page through the copy of Moses’ plan that local amateur historian/know-it-all Dan Haneckow acquired via miracle at Powell’s. But now, by the grace of God and the city transportation planner Bob Cortright, you can download you very own copy of Roberts Moses’ 66-year-old vision for Portland.

Revel in his numerous graphs and beautiful paintings of Portland freeways!

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You’re welcome.

Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.

7 replies on “Robert Moses at Your Fingertips.”

  2. Notice that Moses suggested that the “east side thruway” should be between 7th and 8th on the east side, not along the river as I-5 was eventually built.

  3. Nerds are important people too. This is a wonderful find and would be a worthy addition to the RAQ stakeholder binders. Urban planning often starts out with an elaborate and provincial history lesson.

    Readable and completely interesting bio of Moses is Robert Caro’s The Power Broker.

    The name Rem Koolhaus, a contemporary equal to Moses, rumbled through the room a couple of times last night, probably sending shivers up the collective PDC spine.

  4. I like how he mentions the “postwar employment problem” in 1943. Strange to think that something so apocalyptic was going on in Europe and Asia, and dudes over here were planning how we were going to manage traffic jams when we were done with it.

    … yes, I’ve only made it to the second page.

  6. Here is another background piece to Sarah Mirk’s excellent article – an interesting piece about the process by which urban Interstates were designed and “designated” nationwide. It also taps in to FHWA’s trove of documents. – SL

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