Economic Impacts of Freeway Corridors: Exploring the Socioeconomic, Environmental, Community, and Land-Use Factors Driving Vitality

About the Webinar

There are many discussions about rethinking freeway corridor designs in Minnesota and nationally. Economic impacts should be considered when selecting a design alternative, but these are difficult to quantify. This research aims to provide a framework to better estimate the impacts of freeway corridor alternative projects by also considering mode, scale, land uses, community engagement practices, and environmental impacts.

This webinar included a framing presentation from Christopher Coes, current Executive Director of AmericaFWD and Former Acting Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation, followed by case study discussions that included engagement with webinar participants.

Read an event recap

Speaker

Christopher Coes is the Executive Director of AmericaFWD, a national movement uniting policymakers, community voices, and problem-solvers to fix what’s broken and build what’s next. Launched in 2025, AmericaFWD is ensuring that infrastructure investment drives lasting, transformative change for every American within a generation. Recognizing that the nation’s failing infrastructure is fueling the affordability crisis, AmericaFWD is built on five core pillars—transportation, housing, water, clean energy, and wealth building—to shape policy, expand opportunity, and strengthen economic power.

Christopher brings a deep background in public service and infrastructure policy, shaped by firsthand experience navigating systemic challenges and leading reforms at the highest levels of government. During the Biden-Harris Administration, Christopher served as the Acting Under Secretary of Policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the department’s third-highest-ranking official. 

Questions?

Please contact [email protected].