1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,649 There has been a lot of excitement 2 00:00:07,650 --> 00:00:09,929 in America for the last six years. 3 00:00:09,930 --> 00:00:12,569 On March 29th, 1962, 4 00:00:12,570 --> 00:00:14,339 several busses stopped on a road in 5 00:00:14,340 --> 00:00:15,749 downtown Austin. 6 00:00:15,750 --> 00:00:17,669 Out of them walked dozens of girls 7 00:00:17,670 --> 00:00:19,499 from local high schools. 8 00:00:19,500 --> 00:00:21,269 Some wore pleated plaid skirts. 9 00:00:21,270 --> 00:00:23,039 Others wore dark jumpers over 10 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:24,479 collared shirts. 11 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,579 All of them wore white gloves. 12 00:00:26,580 --> 00:00:28,919 These colorful, often festive 13 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,019 occasions didn't commemorate 14 00:00:31,020 --> 00:00:32,999 holidays or historic 15 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:33,899 anniversaries. 16 00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:35,879 Once off the bus, these girls formed 17 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:37,949 a line stretching across the road, 18 00:00:37,950 --> 00:00:39,209 blocking it. 19 00:00:39,210 --> 00:00:40,589 Men gave speeches. 20 00:00:40,590 --> 00:00:42,059 A marching band played. 21 00:00:42,060 --> 00:00:44,339 These occasions came complete 22 00:00:44,340 --> 00:00:45,839 with all the trimmings. 23 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:47,609 The girls laughed as two guys in 24 00:00:47,610 --> 00:00:49,349 dark suits pretended to cut the air 25 00:00:49,350 --> 00:00:51,149 around them, as if the line they had 26 00:00:51,150 --> 00:00:53,699 formed was a ceremonial ribbon. 27 00:00:53,700 --> 00:00:55,229 Because, you see, this was a 28 00:00:55,230 --> 00:00:56,369 celebration. 29 00:00:56,370 --> 00:00:58,589 A grand opening of a road. 30 00:00:58,590 --> 00:00:59,909 What is this big road? 31 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:01,859 Where is it going? 32 00:01:01,860 --> 00:01:03,779 Well, not just any road. 33 00:01:03,780 --> 00:01:04,780 A superhighway ... 34 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:07,000 to the future. 35 00:01:10,500 --> 00:01:11,309 Are you rolling? 36 00:01:11,310 --> 00:01:11,722 I am rolling, yes. 37 00:01:11,723 --> 00:01:13,349 We are rolling. 38 00:01:13,350 --> 00:01:13,919 All right. 39 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,079 We are turning onto the frontage 40 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:16,563 road of I-35. 41 00:01:16,564 --> 00:01:18,569 I'm gonna try and merge 42 00:01:18,570 --> 00:01:19,109 on, oh shoot. 43 00:01:19,110 --> 00:01:20,110 Okay. Ope. 44 00:01:21,210 --> 00:01:23,159 Nathan's trying, 45 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:24,231 trying to be a safe driver and I'm distracting him. 46 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:26,519 I'm not going to get any accidents 47 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:27,520 today. 48 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:29,249 Awhile back, I went for a drive with 49 00:01:29,250 --> 00:01:30,779 my colleague Nathan Bernier. 50 00:01:30,780 --> 00:01:31,979 He's going to join me for this 51 00:01:31,980 --> 00:01:32,879 episode. 52 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:34,379 Nathan covers transportation for 53 00:01:34,380 --> 00:01:35,429 KUT. 54 00:01:35,430 --> 00:01:37,829 And on this day, we drove on I-35 55 00:01:37,830 --> 00:01:39,988 through downtown Austin. 56 00:01:39,989 --> 00:01:40,949 Um, And how does congestion look 57 00:01:40,950 --> 00:01:42,388 today on I-35? 58 00:01:42,389 --> 00:01:43,369 It's pretty busy on I-35, 59 00:01:43,370 --> 00:01:44,370 surprisingly 60 00:01:45,390 --> 00:01:46,390 enough, uh ... 61 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:49,529 It's about, what, almost 11 a.m.? 62 00:01:49,530 --> 00:01:50,489 11 a.m.. 63 00:01:50,490 --> 00:01:51,490 And we're going, mmm, 64 00:01:52,370 --> 00:01:54,289 10, 20, 15 miles an hour right 65 00:01:54,290 --> 00:01:55,369 now. 66 00:01:55,370 --> 00:01:57,289 Tens of thousands of people going to 67 00:01:57,290 --> 00:01:59,359 work, delivering stuff, going 68 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,489 home, getting their kids, 69 00:02:01,490 --> 00:02:03,559 many of them driving dozens or even 70 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,019 hundreds of miles in one day. 71 00:02:06,020 --> 00:02:07,189 This is it, though, right? 72 00:02:07,190 --> 00:02:08,508 I mean, we're going to pull up the 73 00:02:08,509 --> 00:02:10,429 upper deck and a skyline 74 00:02:10,430 --> 00:02:12,319 of Austin is going to grow out of 75 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:13,320 the horizon. 76 00:02:14,810 --> 00:02:15,810 The thing of dreams, 77 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,639 sitting in, uh, sitting in traffic. 78 00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:21,589 This particular highway is just one 79 00:02:21,590 --> 00:02:23,479 way people in Austin get around. 80 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,119 But driving is the way everyone 81 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:27,949 and everything gets 82 00:02:27,950 --> 00:02:29,449 around the city. 83 00:02:29,450 --> 00:02:31,339 We're, you know, driving by Bank of 84 00:02:31,340 --> 00:02:33,709 America, a Shell Station. 85 00:02:33,710 --> 00:02:35,539 You can see some of the tallest 86 00:02:35,540 --> 00:02:36,739 buildings of downtown, but you 87 00:02:36,740 --> 00:02:38,569 can't- You're not, we're not 88 00:02:38,570 --> 00:02:41,089 quite getting the full 89 00:02:41,090 --> 00:02:43,399 view of downtown just yet. 90 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:44,079 It's coming up. 91 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:45,709 It wasn't that long ago that Austin 92 00:02:45,710 --> 00:02:47,569 was a more rural place. 93 00:02:47,570 --> 00:02:48,769 You didn't have to go far to find 94 00:02:48,770 --> 00:02:50,599 yourself out in the country. 95 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,369 But as Austin got bigger, so did the 96 00:02:52,370 --> 00:02:54,439 roads. And they filled up with more 97 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:55,549 and more people. 98 00:02:55,550 --> 00:02:57,289 More roads. More people. 99 00:02:57,290 --> 00:02:58,759 More people. More roads. 100 00:02:58,760 --> 00:02:59,569 You get it. 101 00:02:59,570 --> 00:03:01,879 Okay, so now we're getting 102 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:03,619 close to 15th Street. 103 00:03:03,620 --> 00:03:06,439 And this is about the place where 104 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:08,659 those dozen or so women 105 00:03:08,660 --> 00:03:10,219 in that photograph that I found 106 00:03:10,220 --> 00:03:12,289 fanned out across this highway 107 00:03:12,290 --> 00:03:14,269 as it opened for the first 108 00:03:14,270 --> 00:03:17,809 time to Austinites in 1962. 109 00:03:17,810 --> 00:03:19,609 And it's what, I mean, 1962. 110 00:03:19,610 --> 00:03:21,559 So for more, 111 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,179 just over 60 years, people have been 112 00:03:23,180 --> 00:03:25,879 driving on this stretch of I-35. 113 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:26,869 Oh, it's insane. 114 00:03:26,870 --> 00:03:29,329 And think about all of the people 115 00:03:29,330 --> 00:03:31,099 and things that have driven along 116 00:03:31,100 --> 00:03:32,779 here. I mean, millions of people, 117 00:03:32,780 --> 00:03:35,149 definitely, including 118 00:03:35,150 --> 00:03:36,150 celebrities. 119 00:03:38,088 --> 00:03:38,779 Probably. 120 00:03:38,780 --> 00:03:39,649 Definitely. 121 00:03:39,650 --> 00:03:39,650 [laughter] 122 00:03:39,651 --> 00:03:41,539 Presidents of the 123 00:03:41,540 --> 00:03:43,399 United States of America and other 124 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:44,400 countries, perhaps. 125 00:03:44,900 --> 00:03:46,309 Presidents also have to go on 126 00:03:46,310 --> 00:03:47,359 highways. 127 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:48,349 And then I think of, like, all the 128 00:03:48,350 --> 00:03:50,239 materials. You know, you see 129 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,129 all the huge commercial 130 00:03:52,130 --> 00:03:53,663 trucks that drive up and down I-35, 131 00:03:53,664 --> 00:03:56,239 um, delivering 132 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:57,679 who knows what. 133 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,109 And what? This stretches from 134 00:04:00,110 --> 00:04:02,299 Laredo to Duluth, 135 00:04:02,300 --> 00:04:03,679 Minnesota. 136 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:04,759 Pretty much, I mean, almost 137 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,649 everything, if you're in 138 00:04:06,650 --> 00:04:08,299 a house, it's very likely that 139 00:04:08,300 --> 00:04:09,367 everything your house is made of 140 00:04:09,368 --> 00:04:11,359 traveled on I-35 at some 141 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,579 point. That beer in your hand, 142 00:04:13,580 --> 00:04:14,869 maybe that traveled, that likely 143 00:04:14,870 --> 00:04:16,469 traveled along I-35. 144 00:04:16,470 --> 00:04:18,679 I mean, everything travels 145 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,689 along I-35, it's insane. 146 00:04:20,690 --> 00:04:22,759 To wax poetic, it's like this 147 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:24,859 artery pulsing through the body 148 00:04:24,860 --> 00:04:25,860 of America. 149 00:04:26,980 --> 00:04:26,985 It is. 150 00:04:26,986 --> 00:04:27,939 All right. You should drop me off 151 00:04:27,940 --> 00:04:28,940 now, cause that was terrible. 152 00:04:30,459 --> 00:04:30,535 [laughter] 153 00:04:30,536 --> 00:04:33,028 Pull over. I'm ejected from the car. 154 00:04:33,029 --> 00:04:34,029 Alright, I'm exiting here. 155 00:04:38,470 --> 00:04:40,419 So what does I-35 have to do 156 00:04:40,420 --> 00:04:42,129 with housing in Austin? 157 00:04:42,130 --> 00:04:44,229 Well, everything. 158 00:04:44,230 --> 00:04:45,999 Without highways, Austin would look 159 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,099 a lot different than it does now. 160 00:04:48,100 --> 00:04:50,289 For better or for worse, 161 00:04:50,290 --> 00:04:51,759 I'm Audrey McGlinchey. 162 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:53,859 This is Growth Machine: How Austin 163 00:04:53,860 --> 00:04:55,899 Engineered Its Housing Market. 164 00:04:55,900 --> 00:04:57,819 Episode two: Roads 165 00:04:57,820 --> 00:04:58,820 to Everywhere. 166 00:05:11,470 --> 00:05:13,329 By the mid 1940s, Austin was 167 00:05:13,330 --> 00:05:15,609 a city of 100,000 people, 168 00:05:15,610 --> 00:05:17,919 a 10th of its population today. 169 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:19,479 And the city was geographically 170 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:20,319 smaller as well. 171 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:22,149 It just took up less land. 172 00:05:22,150 --> 00:05:23,829 The southern boundary of Austin 173 00:05:23,830 --> 00:05:25,809 didn't go far past Oltorf Street, 174 00:05:25,810 --> 00:05:27,609 so in the early forties, St. 175 00:05:27,610 --> 00:05:29,649 Edward's University was outside 176 00:05:29,650 --> 00:05:30,579 the city limits. 177 00:05:30,580 --> 00:05:31,899 To the west, Lake Austin was a 178 00:05:31,900 --> 00:05:34,269 boundary, and to the north, 51st 179 00:05:34,270 --> 00:05:36,369 Street was one of the boundaries. 180 00:05:36,370 --> 00:05:38,049 Then East Austin stretched to around 181 00:05:38,050 --> 00:05:39,699 Airport Boulevard. 182 00:05:39,700 --> 00:05:42,069 Getting around was not great. 183 00:05:42,070 --> 00:05:43,959 A lot of city roads were still 184 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:44,919 unpaved. 185 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:46,329 The city had not even paved Lamar 186 00:05:46,330 --> 00:05:48,159 Boulevard, north of 24th Street, in 187 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:48,969 the mid-forties. 188 00:05:48,970 --> 00:05:50,169 Which is wild to think about, like, 189 00:05:50,170 --> 00:05:52,509 half of Lamar is just a gravel road. 190 00:05:52,510 --> 00:05:54,099 Anyway, back in the forties, Austin 191 00:05:54,100 --> 00:05:55,839 was a much smaller city. 192 00:05:55,840 --> 00:05:57,759 Yeah, and harder to get around. 193 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:59,799 But that all changed when everyone 194 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:00,800 got a car. 195 00:06:06,090 --> 00:06:07,949 By the end of the 1930s, America was 196 00:06:07,950 --> 00:06:09,479 only a few decades away from the 197 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:10,589 horse and buggy. 198 00:06:10,590 --> 00:06:12,209 But there were already 30 million 199 00:06:12,210 --> 00:06:13,409 cars on the road. 200 00:06:13,410 --> 00:06:15,629 Buick's beauty, smooth 201 00:06:15,630 --> 00:06:17,699 safety surge acceleration 202 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:18,959 and its million dollar ride. 203 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:20,279 Look at those lines. 204 00:06:20,280 --> 00:06:21,897 There's true streamlining for you 205 00:06:21,898 --> 00:06:22,319 ... 206 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:24,269 But the roads were not that 207 00:06:24,270 --> 00:06:26,069 great. So there was a movement to 208 00:06:26,070 --> 00:06:28,499 build a network of superhighways. 209 00:06:28,500 --> 00:06:29,999 Can't you see that this highway 210 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:31,889 means a whole new way of life 211 00:06:31,890 --> 00:06:32,669 for the children? 212 00:06:32,670 --> 00:06:33,839 Congress was studying whether to 213 00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:36,059 build an interstate highway system. 214 00:06:36,060 --> 00:06:37,980 But then ... World War Two happened. 215 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:42,519 All America offers its pattern of 216 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,379 life and work to meet the demand 217 00:06:44,380 --> 00:06:45,380 for protection. 218 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:48,979 World War Two slowed down efforts 219 00:06:48,980 --> 00:06:50,089 to build the interstate highway 220 00:06:50,090 --> 00:06:51,559 system, and the war also slowed the 221 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:52,609 production of cars. 222 00:06:52,610 --> 00:06:54,439 GM became the largest 223 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,049 military contractor in the country, 224 00:06:57,050 --> 00:06:58,639 making machine guns and 225 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:00,189 anti-aircraft cannon. 226 00:07:00,190 --> 00:07:02,089 As General Motors makes victory 227 00:07:02,090 --> 00:07:02,869 its business. 228 00:07:02,870 --> 00:07:04,549 Ford stopped making cars for 229 00:07:04,550 --> 00:07:05,489 civilians. 230 00:07:05,490 --> 00:07:07,099 The Ford Motor Company has thrown 231 00:07:07,100 --> 00:07:08,629 the full weight of its engineering 232 00:07:08,630 --> 00:07:10,369 resources behind the nation's 233 00:07:10,370 --> 00:07:11,419 defense efforts. 234 00:07:11,420 --> 00:07:12,829 Most people couldn't even buy a car 235 00:07:12,830 --> 00:07:14,389 because of rationing. 236 00:07:14,390 --> 00:07:16,069 Supplies were short on everything 237 00:07:16,070 --> 00:07:17,809 from shoes to gasoline was doled 238 00:07:17,810 --> 00:07:19,879 out. No stamps, no 239 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:20,880 salt. 240 00:07:22,130 --> 00:07:24,139 So imagine living through the most 241 00:07:24,140 --> 00:07:26,209 destructive and deadliest war 242 00:07:26,210 --> 00:07:28,219 in human history, with all 243 00:07:28,220 --> 00:07:29,719 this deprivation in the United 244 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:30,589 States. 245 00:07:30,590 --> 00:07:33,019 And then it all ended 246 00:07:33,020 --> 00:07:34,020 in 1945. 247 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:39,759 Throughout the world, throngs of 248 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:41,410 people hailed the end of the war. 249 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:44,679 Car companies started making cars 250 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:46,809 again, and Americans were hungry 251 00:07:46,810 --> 00:07:47,919 for them. 252 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:49,720 [music] I'm in love with you, baby. 253 00:07:51,220 --> 00:07:54,309 Let me ride in your automobile. 254 00:07:54,310 --> 00:07:56,169 Today, the automobile is part of 255 00:07:56,170 --> 00:07:57,369 any American scene. 256 00:07:57,370 --> 00:07:59,649 Clean and sleek and strong. 257 00:07:59,650 --> 00:08:01,479 Like so many people these days, we 258 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:02,619 live in the suburbs. 259 00:08:02,620 --> 00:08:04,149 And three weeks ago, we bought 260 00:08:04,150 --> 00:08:05,259 another Ford. 261 00:08:05,260 --> 00:08:07,269 It's a whole new way of life. 262 00:08:07,270 --> 00:08:08,259 Gas was cheap. 263 00:08:08,260 --> 00:08:10,149 In today's dollars, about two bucks 264 00:08:10,150 --> 00:08:11,979 a gallon. Credit was easy 265 00:08:11,980 --> 00:08:13,839 and cars were being pumped out like 266 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:14,529 hotcakes. 267 00:08:14,530 --> 00:08:16,149 Chevrolet is the first in the 268 00:08:16,150 --> 00:08:18,099 industry to achieve the riding 269 00:08:18,100 --> 00:08:20,139 and driving thrill of a lifetime. 270 00:08:20,140 --> 00:08:21,639 There's never been anything like it 271 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:22,239 before. 272 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,279 Now I'm free to go anywhere, do 273 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,199 anything, see anybody, any time 274 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:27,189 I want to. 275 00:08:27,190 --> 00:08:28,569 If you never had that freedom 276 00:08:28,570 --> 00:08:30,145 before, it must have felt amazing. 277 00:08:30,146 --> 00:08:32,408 [music] Let me riding 278 00:08:32,409 --> 00:08:34,689 your automobile. 279 00:08:34,690 --> 00:08:36,249 And more people than ever could 280 00:08:36,250 --> 00:08:36,759 afford it. 281 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,009 From 1945 to 1955, 282 00:08:39,010 --> 00:08:41,379 the number of vehicles in the U.S. 283 00:08:41,380 --> 00:08:43,639 doubled to more than 60 284 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:44,289 million. 285 00:08:44,290 --> 00:08:45,819 In a single decade. 286 00:08:45,820 --> 00:08:47,709 Through quality mass production. 287 00:08:47,710 --> 00:08:50,169 New Chevrolets are made each year, 288 00:08:50,170 --> 00:08:52,149 which millions of people can afford. 289 00:08:52,150 --> 00:08:53,199 And now people wanted to do 290 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:54,489 everything in their cars. 291 00:08:54,490 --> 00:08:55,389 Want to have dinner? 292 00:08:55,390 --> 00:08:56,469 Drive in restaurants. 293 00:08:56,470 --> 00:08:57,549 Want to go see a movie? 294 00:08:57,550 --> 00:08:58,899 Drive in movie theater. 295 00:08:58,900 --> 00:08:59,979 Want to make a deposit? 296 00:08:59,980 --> 00:09:00,969 Drive in bank. 297 00:09:00,970 --> 00:09:02,878 Where the cashier works behind a 298 00:09:02,879 --> 00:09:03,369 bulletproof glass ... 299 00:09:03,370 --> 00:09:05,439 Millions of people in their cars 300 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:07,929 would change American culture 301 00:09:07,930 --> 00:09:08,949 forever. 302 00:09:08,950 --> 00:09:10,329 [music] Oh, you've got a good little 303 00:09:10,330 --> 00:09:11,799 car, baby. 304 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:12,938 Two minute drive ... 305 00:09:17,550 --> 00:09:19,229 It don't run like no buggy. 306 00:09:23,740 --> 00:09:25,449 And now, with the car at the center 307 00:09:25,450 --> 00:09:26,889 of American life, there was enough 308 00:09:26,890 --> 00:09:28,479 political support for the federal 309 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,099 government to put a lot of money on 310 00:09:30,100 --> 00:09:32,229 the table for an interstate highway 311 00:09:32,230 --> 00:09:33,159 system. 312 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,219 $25 billion. 313 00:09:36,220 --> 00:09:37,569 That's what Congress approved in 314 00:09:37,570 --> 00:09:39,099 1956. 315 00:09:42,100 --> 00:09:43,419 The legislation was signed by 316 00:09:43,420 --> 00:09:45,039 President Dwight Eisenhower. 317 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:46,869 The Federal Aid Highway 318 00:09:46,870 --> 00:09:47,589 Act. 319 00:09:47,590 --> 00:09:49,179 The most talked about phase of the 320 00:09:49,180 --> 00:09:50,889 act is the Interstate Highway 321 00:09:50,890 --> 00:09:53,109 System, a 41,000 322 00:09:53,110 --> 00:09:54,999 mile network of our most important 323 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:56,000 roads. 324 00:09:56,650 --> 00:09:58,569 Most of these roads will be four, 325 00:09:58,570 --> 00:10:01,329 six, even eight lane expressways, 326 00:10:01,330 --> 00:10:03,130 constructed for through traffic. 327 00:10:04,270 --> 00:10:05,559 They will take the over-the-road 328 00:10:05,560 --> 00:10:07,389 driver from city to city, coast to 329 00:10:07,390 --> 00:10:09,018 coast, at highway speeds — 330 00:10:10,330 --> 00:10:11,949 even through large population 331 00:10:11,950 --> 00:10:13,299 centers. 332 00:10:13,300 --> 00:10:15,099 The plan was to route highways very 333 00:10:15,100 --> 00:10:16,839 close to town centers, to bring 334 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:18,549 people into the city where they 335 00:10:18,550 --> 00:10:20,019 could do their business and spend 336 00:10:20,020 --> 00:10:20,739 their money. 337 00:10:20,740 --> 00:10:22,299 So that's why I say, speaking for 338 00:10:22,300 --> 00:10:24,189 the Chamber of Commerce, if there's 339 00:10:24,190 --> 00:10:26,049 any highway improvement to be done, 340 00:10:26,050 --> 00:10:27,519 let's improve the roads that bring 341 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,320 more people into Connersville. 342 00:10:32,850 --> 00:10:35,009 Whether it's Dallas, Detroit, 343 00:10:35,010 --> 00:10:36,479 Denver. Everyone's getting a 344 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:36,645 highway. 345 00:10:36,646 --> 00:10:38,759 Including Austin. 346 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:40,319 In the 1940s, the head of the State 347 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:41,459 Highway Department showed up in 348 00:10:41,460 --> 00:10:43,409 Austin. His name was DeWitt 349 00:10:43,410 --> 00:10:45,419 C. Greer, and he's a super important 350 00:10:45,420 --> 00:10:46,949 guy when it comes to the development 351 00:10:46,950 --> 00:10:48,509 of highways in Texas. 352 00:10:48,510 --> 00:10:50,039 He would actually wind up running 353 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,619 the state highway department for 354 00:10:52,620 --> 00:10:54,689 the next 30 years, almost. 355 00:10:54,690 --> 00:10:56,729 He became known as king of 356 00:10:56,730 --> 00:10:58,319 the highway builders. 357 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,449 Anyway, so this king of highways 358 00:11:00,450 --> 00:11:02,369 comes to Austin leaders and says, 359 00:11:02,370 --> 00:11:03,869 'Hey, your city is not big enough to 360 00:11:03,870 --> 00:11:05,039 be our first priority. 361 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:06,539 We're going to build a highway in 362 00:11:06,540 --> 00:11:08,429 Dallas and San Antonio, 363 00:11:08,430 --> 00:11:09,959 but then we'll get to you. 364 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:11,279 So you guys better get ready and 365 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:12,989 start figuring out where we should 366 00:11:12,990 --> 00:11:14,279 put this thing.' 367 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,319 So the city highway planners started 368 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:18,149 looking at some routes, two 369 00:11:18,150 --> 00:11:19,769 or three of them, and they presented 370 00:11:19,770 --> 00:11:21,689 them to the state officials. 371 00:11:21,690 --> 00:11:23,489 And some of these routes were kind 372 00:11:23,490 --> 00:11:24,419 of interesting. 373 00:11:24,420 --> 00:11:26,339 One possible route for I-35 374 00:11:26,340 --> 00:11:27,869 would have set it up San Jacinto 375 00:11:27,870 --> 00:11:29,969 Boulevard, but that passed through 376 00:11:29,970 --> 00:11:31,529 University of Texas property. 377 00:11:31,530 --> 00:11:33,629 Can't really put a highway over UT. 378 00:11:33,630 --> 00:11:35,489 Right. And then there was Red 379 00:11:35,490 --> 00:11:36,989 River, that was considered as a 380 00:11:36,990 --> 00:11:38,849 route. But at the time that 381 00:11:38,850 --> 00:11:40,439 ran through what was the Austin 382 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,509 Country Club Golf course. 383 00:11:42,510 --> 00:11:43,949 God forbid the golfers be 384 00:11:43,950 --> 00:11:45,839 interrupted by a highway. 385 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:46,739 Can't have that. 386 00:11:46,740 --> 00:11:49,079 Finally, in February 1945, 387 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:50,849 all the government officials agree, 388 00:11:50,850 --> 00:11:52,979 'We're going to put the highway down 389 00:11:52,980 --> 00:11:55,169 a street called East Avenue.' 390 00:11:55,170 --> 00:11:56,669 And the planners had several reasons 391 00:11:56,670 --> 00:11:57,989 for choosing East Avenue. 392 00:11:57,990 --> 00:11:59,789 First, it was wide. 393 00:11:59,790 --> 00:12:01,619 Much of it was already 200 394 00:12:01,620 --> 00:12:02,609 feet wide. 395 00:12:02,610 --> 00:12:03,959 And that was how wide they needed 396 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:04,919 the highway to be. 397 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:06,336 It was actually called la Calle 398 00:12:06,337 --> 00:12:08,219 Ancha or the Wide 399 00:12:08,220 --> 00:12:10,349 Street by Mexican-American residents 400 00:12:10,350 --> 00:12:11,009 who lived nearby. 401 00:12:11,010 --> 00:12:12,989 It wasn't always full of cars. 402 00:12:12,990 --> 00:12:14,849 It was also this social place. 403 00:12:14,850 --> 00:12:16,679 Large, grassy medians cut 404 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:18,239 through the road and people would 405 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:19,859 picnic in these medians. 406 00:12:19,860 --> 00:12:21,329 They'd play baseball. 407 00:12:21,330 --> 00:12:23,009 Even horses grazed there. 408 00:12:23,010 --> 00:12:24,959 So East Avenue, planners argued, was 409 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:26,459 already the right dimensions for a 410 00:12:26,460 --> 00:12:27,359 highway. 411 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,699 It was already a busy thoroughfare, 412 00:12:29,700 --> 00:12:30,839 but there were some other factors as 413 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:31,289 well. 414 00:12:31,290 --> 00:12:33,569 Highway planners across the country 415 00:12:33,570 --> 00:12:35,099 were choosing routes that tore 416 00:12:35,100 --> 00:12:36,929 through communities of color, even 417 00:12:36,930 --> 00:12:38,669 sometimes literally rerouting the 418 00:12:38,670 --> 00:12:40,019 highway to avoid white 419 00:12:40,020 --> 00:12:41,189 neighborhoods. 420 00:12:41,190 --> 00:12:42,929 In the last episode, we talked about 421 00:12:42,930 --> 00:12:44,819 how I-35 eventually became 422 00:12:44,820 --> 00:12:46,709 this dividing line between East and 423 00:12:46,710 --> 00:12:48,629 West Austin, a dividing line 424 00:12:48,630 --> 00:12:50,099 between communities of color and 425 00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:51,569 white people. 426 00:12:51,570 --> 00:12:53,579 But before that, East Avenue was 427 00:12:53,580 --> 00:12:54,929 this dividing line. 428 00:12:54,930 --> 00:12:57,269 Banks used East Avenue as a marker 429 00:12:57,270 --> 00:12:58,949 to decide who they would lend money 430 00:12:58,950 --> 00:13:00,599 to. You might have heard of the term 431 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:01,379 redlining. 432 00:13:01,380 --> 00:13:02,609 Well, that's basically where 433 00:13:02,610 --> 00:13:04,439 mortgage lenders took maps 434 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,449 of cities and they drew red lines 435 00:13:06,450 --> 00:13:07,439 around neighborhoods where they 436 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:08,879 would refuse to give mortgages to 437 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:09,749 people. 438 00:13:09,750 --> 00:13:11,159 Most of the time, those 439 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:12,299 neighborhoods were black 440 00:13:12,300 --> 00:13:14,579 neighborhoods, east of East Avenue, 441 00:13:14,580 --> 00:13:16,289 redlined. So essentially, these 442 00:13:16,290 --> 00:13:17,879 communities were left out of home 443 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,159 ownership for decades, 444 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:21,509 and that would have ramifications 445 00:13:21,510 --> 00:13:23,189 generations down the road. 446 00:13:23,190 --> 00:13:25,259 I do remember when East Avenue 447 00:13:25,260 --> 00:13:26,260 was the distinct 448 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:28,889 street. 449 00:13:28,890 --> 00:13:31,409 And I remember seeing 450 00:13:31,410 --> 00:13:34,049 the concrete, 451 00:13:34,050 --> 00:13:36,269 some of the concrete laid and seeing 452 00:13:36,270 --> 00:13:38,309 some of the huge pipes 453 00:13:38,310 --> 00:13:40,169 going in for the 454 00:13:40,170 --> 00:13:41,999 construction of Interstate 455 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:43,439 Highway 35. 456 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:44,519 That's Harrison Epight. 457 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:45,719 He was born in Austin in the 458 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:47,339 mid-fifties, and he grew up in East 459 00:13:47,340 --> 00:13:48,869 Austin in what was a redlined 460 00:13:48,870 --> 00:13:49,889 neighborhood. 461 00:13:49,890 --> 00:13:51,569 Right now, the area has completely 462 00:13:51,570 --> 00:13:52,589 changed. 463 00:13:52,590 --> 00:13:54,089 There's a Whole Foods there. 464 00:13:54,090 --> 00:13:54,899 So that's where I met him. 465 00:13:54,900 --> 00:13:56,309 We sat out on the patio at Whole 466 00:13:56,310 --> 00:13:58,349 Foods right next to I-35 467 00:13:58,350 --> 00:13:59,459 and talked about the highway. 468 00:13:59,460 --> 00:14:02,429 It worsened segregation 469 00:14:02,430 --> 00:14:04,589 for those people who could not 470 00:14:04,590 --> 00:14:05,590 move. 471 00:14:06,370 --> 00:14:08,319 Or those who chose not to 472 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:09,429 move. 473 00:14:09,430 --> 00:14:11,799 And then the land was devalued 474 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:12,669 over here. 475 00:14:12,670 --> 00:14:14,499 That, I guess you could say 476 00:14:14,500 --> 00:14:16,179 redlining was the worst thing of 477 00:14:16,180 --> 00:14:18,189 all. But certainly 478 00:14:18,190 --> 00:14:20,649 that along with I-35, 479 00:14:20,650 --> 00:14:23,409 it became an unofficial, 480 00:14:23,410 --> 00:14:25,119 an unofficial barrier. 481 00:14:27,290 --> 00:14:28,609 But even before they could start 482 00:14:28,610 --> 00:14:30,499 building this highway barrier, 483 00:14:30,500 --> 00:14:31,939 officials realized they needed to 484 00:14:31,940 --> 00:14:34,008 make more room for it. 485 00:14:34,009 --> 00:14:34,879 Even though East Avenue was still 486 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:36,919 200 feet wide, it wasn't wide 487 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:37,459 enough. 488 00:14:37,460 --> 00:14:39,289 So in 1948, the city started 489 00:14:39,290 --> 00:14:41,179 seizing people's property. 490 00:14:41,180 --> 00:14:43,099 Dozens of homes and businesses were 491 00:14:43,100 --> 00:14:44,269 taken by the city. 492 00:14:44,270 --> 00:14:46,639 One of those homes was on Claremont 493 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:47,659 Avenue. 494 00:14:47,660 --> 00:14:48,449 This is a street. 495 00:14:48,450 --> 00:14:49,849 It's one of the first streets after 496 00:14:49,850 --> 00:14:51,529 you cross over Lady Bird Lake on the 497 00:14:51,530 --> 00:14:53,449 north side of the lake. 498 00:14:53,450 --> 00:14:55,459 It's basically a block long 499 00:14:55,460 --> 00:14:57,289 right now because most of it 500 00:14:57,290 --> 00:14:58,579 was taken for the highway. 501 00:14:58,580 --> 00:15:00,619 On this street in the early 1950s, 502 00:15:00,620 --> 00:15:02,629 there was this one story house. 503 00:15:02,630 --> 00:15:04,339 There was a picket fence, a chicken 504 00:15:04,340 --> 00:15:05,869 coop in the backyard. 505 00:15:05,870 --> 00:15:07,791 And it belonged to this guy. 506 00:15:07,792 --> 00:15:08,792 Ilus J. Hall. 32, 507 00:15:11,180 --> 00:15:13,189 132 508 00:15:13,190 --> 00:15:14,190 years old. 509 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:16,069 No, no. 510 00:15:16,070 --> 00:15:17,179 102. 511 00:15:17,180 --> 00:15:18,559 That's his son, Mark. 512 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:19,560 Oh, yeah. 513 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,119 Yeah. I'm not, I'm not 514 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:24,949 132, that'd make me a little 515 00:15:24,950 --> 00:15:25,950 bit older. [laughter] 516 00:15:26,705 --> 00:15:28,579 Ilis, who, to be clear, is 517 00:15:28,580 --> 00:15:30,739 102, was born in Oklahoma 518 00:15:30,740 --> 00:15:32,539 in 1921. 519 00:15:32,540 --> 00:15:33,709 He came to Austin because he was 520 00:15:33,710 --> 00:15:35,359 stationed at the Bergstrom Air Force 521 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:36,049 Base. 522 00:15:36,050 --> 00:15:37,519 When he left the Army, he bought the 523 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:39,499 house at 1008 Clermont 524 00:15:39,500 --> 00:15:39,919 Avenue. 525 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:41,598 First house ever. 526 00:15:41,599 --> 00:15:43,129 Ilis lived at this house with his 527 00:15:43,130 --> 00:15:44,869 wife for a few years. 528 00:15:44,870 --> 00:15:46,879 Then the city came knocking. 529 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:48,529 At first they said they'd only take 530 00:15:48,530 --> 00:15:50,539 part of his lot, and Ilis thought 531 00:15:50,540 --> 00:15:51,799 he'd be able to stay. 532 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:53,659 And then they come back and 533 00:15:53,660 --> 00:15:55,819 said, 'No, that's not 534 00:15:55,820 --> 00:15:57,049 enough. 535 00:15:57,050 --> 00:15:58,840 We gonna to take all of it.' 536 00:16:01,700 --> 00:16:02,700 I tried to 537 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:06,139 get 'em to let me have 538 00:16:06,140 --> 00:16:07,140 back half. 539 00:16:09,140 --> 00:16:10,399 They wouldn't do it. 540 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:12,589 They said, 'Well, we're 541 00:16:12,590 --> 00:16:14,140 going to take over.' [laughter] 542 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:16,909 The city of Austin offered Ilis 543 00:16:16,910 --> 00:16:18,799 $3400 for his 544 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:19,639 home. 545 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:20,640 $3400? 546 00:16:22,370 --> 00:16:23,455 3400? Does that sound right? 547 00:16:24,835 --> 00:16:25,835 [laughter] 548 00:16:26,048 --> 00:16:27,319 That's not very much by today's 549 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:28,320 standards. 550 00:16:30,889 --> 00:16:31,889 You couldn't buy ... [laughter] 551 00:16:34,820 --> 00:16:35,929 At that point, he made a little 552 00:16:35,930 --> 00:16:37,609 gesture where he's holding up his 553 00:16:37,610 --> 00:16:39,679 fingers to show a very small 554 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:40,579 amount, you know. 555 00:16:40,580 --> 00:16:41,629 So I don't know what that home would 556 00:16:41,630 --> 00:16:43,519 be worth now, Audrey, but I imagine 557 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:44,299 quite a lot. 558 00:16:44,300 --> 00:16:46,009 Yeah. A home on that street is 559 00:16:46,010 --> 00:16:47,779 actually for sale right now. 560 00:16:47,780 --> 00:16:49,369 And according to Zillow, it's listed 561 00:16:49,370 --> 00:16:51,409 for about one and a half million 562 00:16:51,410 --> 00:16:53,029 dollars. 563 00:16:53,030 --> 00:16:55,009 So the city takes his home 564 00:16:55,010 --> 00:16:56,809 and Ilis moves out in the mid 565 00:16:56,810 --> 00:16:57,769 fifties. 566 00:16:57,770 --> 00:16:59,449 Here's his son, Mark, again, asking 567 00:16:59,450 --> 00:17:00,589 him a question. 568 00:17:00,590 --> 00:17:02,569 Were you wanting to move at that 569 00:17:02,570 --> 00:17:04,338 time anyway, or was that something 570 00:17:04,339 --> 00:17:06,618 that was kind of forced on you? 571 00:17:06,619 --> 00:17:07,619 Well, 572 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,358 I don't know 573 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:13,309 that it was forced on me, 574 00:17:13,310 --> 00:17:14,310 but 575 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,390 in a way it was too, 576 00:17:18,470 --> 00:17:21,078 because I would've lived 577 00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:23,519 there for some time, 578 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:24,520 I know, if 579 00:17:26,434 --> 00:17:27,434 I hadn't sold it. 580 00:17:29,250 --> 00:17:30,779 Once the city seized all this 581 00:17:30,780 --> 00:17:32,819 property, including Ilis' house, 582 00:17:32,820 --> 00:17:34,259 the state was able to finish the 583 00:17:34,260 --> 00:17:36,119 last segment of I-35 through 584 00:17:36,120 --> 00:17:36,839 Austin. 585 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:37,889 But before they even finished 586 00:17:37,890 --> 00:17:39,899 building I-35 in the early sixties, 587 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:41,219 an engineer for the Texas Highway 588 00:17:41,220 --> 00:17:43,289 Department, Ed Bluestein, whose name 589 00:17:43,290 --> 00:17:44,669 you might recognize from a local 590 00:17:44,670 --> 00:17:46,829 boulevard, he said four lanes 591 00:17:46,830 --> 00:17:48,359 is not enough. 592 00:17:48,360 --> 00:17:50,339 So the city, he said, needed 593 00:17:50,340 --> 00:17:52,259 to start immediately getting more 594 00:17:52,260 --> 00:17:55,229 land to build six lanes downtown. 595 00:17:55,230 --> 00:17:57,209 And that's how wide I-35 596 00:17:57,210 --> 00:17:59,609 was when it opened in 1962. 597 00:18:01,380 --> 00:18:03,929 This is the American dream 598 00:18:03,930 --> 00:18:06,449 of freedom on wheels. 599 00:18:06,450 --> 00:18:07,482 An automotive age traveling 600 00:18:08,670 --> 00:18:11,369 on time-saving superhighways. 601 00:18:11,370 --> 00:18:12,749 You have to remember that highways 602 00:18:12,750 --> 00:18:15,269 were still this really novel thing. 603 00:18:15,270 --> 00:18:16,679 Around this time, the Dallas Morning 604 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:18,989 News actually ran a story explaining 605 00:18:18,990 --> 00:18:21,209 to readers how to use the entrance 606 00:18:21,210 --> 00:18:23,339 and exit ramps of this highway. 607 00:18:23,340 --> 00:18:25,649 We have become the nation 608 00:18:25,650 --> 00:18:27,599 on wheels, with 609 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,089 more motorized mobility 610 00:18:30,090 --> 00:18:32,099 than ever dreamed of before. 611 00:18:33,790 --> 00:18:35,049 It's hard to understand what this 612 00:18:35,050 --> 00:18:36,549 was like now because we just take it 613 00:18:36,550 --> 00:18:37,569 all for granted. 614 00:18:37,570 --> 00:18:39,579 But the highway changed so 615 00:18:39,580 --> 00:18:41,499 many things. Of course, we talk 616 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:43,119 about people's land getting taken, 617 00:18:43,120 --> 00:18:44,469 dozens of homes. 618 00:18:44,470 --> 00:18:46,359 I-35 cemented the 619 00:18:46,360 --> 00:18:48,879 segregation of East Austin. 620 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:50,529 And it did this other big thing. 621 00:18:50,530 --> 00:18:52,509 The highway opened up a bunch of new 622 00:18:52,510 --> 00:18:54,309 land. You could suddenly drive so 623 00:18:54,310 --> 00:18:56,139 much faster across the city and 624 00:18:56,140 --> 00:18:57,219 beyond. 625 00:18:57,220 --> 00:18:59,079 You could live farther away, ten, 626 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:00,909 20, 30 miles outside 627 00:19:00,910 --> 00:19:02,829 Austin and get to work downtown 628 00:19:02,830 --> 00:19:04,449 in still a reasonable amount of 629 00:19:04,450 --> 00:19:05,379 time. 630 00:19:05,380 --> 00:19:07,780 Suddenly, there was a new frontier. 631 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:11,829 More after the break. 632 00:19:19,870 --> 00:19:21,879 So I-35 opened in Austin 633 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:23,709 in 1962 and 634 00:19:23,710 --> 00:19:24,939 suddenly you could drive from 635 00:19:24,940 --> 00:19:26,649 downtown to the outskirts of the 636 00:19:26,650 --> 00:19:28,869 city in, I don't know, ten 637 00:19:28,870 --> 00:19:30,969 minutes, and park your car 638 00:19:30,970 --> 00:19:33,219 outside your lovely new home. 639 00:19:33,220 --> 00:19:34,779 We in Austin can be proud of our 640 00:19:34,780 --> 00:19:36,669 beautiful residential district, and 641 00:19:36,670 --> 00:19:38,559 the Nash Phillips Corpus Company has 642 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:40,269 contributed many of the fine homes 643 00:19:40,270 --> 00:19:42,849 in and around our area, finer homes 644 00:19:42,850 --> 00:19:43,959 at lower cost. 645 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:45,339 What you're hearing is an ad for 646 00:19:45,340 --> 00:19:47,079 this new development called Windsor 647 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:47,919 Park. 648 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:48,939 You might know it better as a 649 00:19:48,940 --> 00:19:50,949 neighborhood in northeast Austin, 650 00:19:50,950 --> 00:19:52,059 just north of the Mueller 651 00:19:52,060 --> 00:19:52,779 development. 652 00:19:52,780 --> 00:19:54,609 Back then, right on the edge of 653 00:19:54,610 --> 00:19:55,809 town. 654 00:19:55,810 --> 00:19:57,999 More home for the money, and quality 655 00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:59,499 at no extra cost. 656 00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:00,759 Some of the first homes were built 657 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,549 in Windsor Park in 1955, 658 00:20:03,550 --> 00:20:04,809 around the same time as they broke 659 00:20:04,810 --> 00:20:06,459 ground on the interstate. 660 00:20:06,460 --> 00:20:07,929 Once the highway was finished, 661 00:20:07,930 --> 00:20:09,519 developers built more and more 662 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:11,049 houses in this area. 663 00:20:11,050 --> 00:20:12,879 This is it. This is the 664 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:13,779 future. 665 00:20:13,780 --> 00:20:15,249 People have returned from World War 666 00:20:15,250 --> 00:20:16,029 Two. 667 00:20:16,030 --> 00:20:17,499 The government's putting all this 668 00:20:17,500 --> 00:20:18,500 money into building homes. 669 00:20:19,690 --> 00:20:20,979 And not just building homes, but 670 00:20:20,980 --> 00:20:22,869 backing mortgages, making 671 00:20:22,870 --> 00:20:24,909 it much easier for people, and 672 00:20:24,910 --> 00:20:26,829 to be clear, almost exclusively 673 00:20:26,830 --> 00:20:28,689 white people to buy a 674 00:20:28,690 --> 00:20:29,690 house. 675 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:35,109 Funny thing about wanting a house, 676 00:20:35,110 --> 00:20:36,559 how it hits some young couples. 677 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:37,659 All of a sudden. 678 00:20:37,660 --> 00:20:39,489 The home they've always dreamed of, 679 00:20:39,490 --> 00:20:41,139 the happiest investment they have 680 00:20:41,140 --> 00:20:42,289 ever made. 681 00:20:42,290 --> 00:20:44,439 Maybe I better add a few more rooms 682 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:45,386 back here. 683 00:20:45,387 --> 00:20:46,959 For the hopes and dreams of 684 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:49,569 everyone, there's a home 685 00:20:49,570 --> 00:20:51,189 they can call their own. 686 00:20:51,190 --> 00:20:53,079 Oh, darling, it's going to be just 687 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:54,080 perfect. 688 00:20:55,270 --> 00:20:56,270 That's right. 689 00:20:57,460 --> 00:20:59,439 Highways poured gasoline on 690 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:01,089 the flames of homeownership. 691 00:21:01,090 --> 00:21:03,489 These big roads gave us easy access 692 00:21:03,490 --> 00:21:05,439 to more land, land that people 693 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:06,159 could build on. 694 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:08,229 By 1972, a decade 695 00:21:08,230 --> 00:21:10,749 after I-35 opened in Austin, 696 00:21:10,750 --> 00:21:12,969 the city had grown substantially, 697 00:21:12,970 --> 00:21:15,009 annexing nearly 40 square 698 00:21:15,010 --> 00:21:16,899 miles of land. 699 00:21:16,900 --> 00:21:18,549 To put that in other terms, Austin 700 00:21:18,550 --> 00:21:20,529 increased its geographic size 701 00:21:20,530 --> 00:21:23,048 by nearly 60%. 702 00:21:23,049 --> 00:21:24,369 Yeah and over the next two decades, 703 00:21:24,370 --> 00:21:26,199 Austin, as a city became 704 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:27,759 less dense, meaning the city's 705 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:29,589 residents are spreading out, 706 00:21:29,590 --> 00:21:31,749 living further away from each other. 707 00:21:31,750 --> 00:21:33,789 It was a new age of growth, the 708 00:21:33,790 --> 00:21:35,769 age of suburban living 709 00:21:35,770 --> 00:21:37,689 on steroids, also 710 00:21:37,690 --> 00:21:39,699 known as sprawl. 711 00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:41,619 From a layperson's term, we probably 712 00:21:41,620 --> 00:21:43,869 have a visible association 713 00:21:43,870 --> 00:21:44,469 with sprawl. 714 00:21:44,470 --> 00:21:45,849 This is Jean Claudia Scherer. 715 00:21:45,850 --> 00:21:47,439 She's a professor of community and 716 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,239 regional planning at UT-Austin. 717 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:50,949 We kind of know it when we see it. 718 00:21:50,950 --> 00:21:52,479 The streets become filled with 719 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:54,339 crowds of workers and shoppers. 720 00:21:54,340 --> 00:21:55,959 Low rise commercial development, 721 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:56,949 strip malls. 722 00:21:56,950 --> 00:21:58,959 Then in the evening, the workers 723 00:21:58,960 --> 00:21:59,829 stream home again. 724 00:21:59,830 --> 00:22:00,999 More driving involved. 725 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:02,919 And the business section becomes 726 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:03,969 a ghost city. 727 00:22:03,970 --> 00:22:06,129 Sometimes it has a negative, 728 00:22:06,130 --> 00:22:07,749 aesthetic connotation. 729 00:22:07,750 --> 00:22:09,099 Onward and upward go the 730 00:22:09,100 --> 00:22:10,359 subdivisions. 731 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:12,219 One development here, 732 00:22:12,220 --> 00:22:14,169 another down the highway, competing 733 00:22:14,170 --> 00:22:15,759 to lure more people to the open 734 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:17,019 spaces. 735 00:22:17,020 --> 00:22:19,209 So what does all of this have to do 736 00:22:19,210 --> 00:22:20,889 with housing prices? 737 00:22:20,890 --> 00:22:22,809 Well, it's hard to build new housing 738 00:22:22,810 --> 00:22:24,579 in Austin for a bunch of reasons, 739 00:22:24,580 --> 00:22:26,259 but mainly because of building 740 00:22:26,260 --> 00:22:28,239 regulations and opposition from 741 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,429 people already living in the city. 742 00:22:30,430 --> 00:22:31,929 We'll talk a lot more about that in 743 00:22:31,930 --> 00:22:33,099 a later episode. 744 00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:34,899 But it's all good because people can 745 00:22:34,900 --> 00:22:36,969 just build further out. 746 00:22:36,970 --> 00:22:38,499 The outskirts of the city and the 747 00:22:38,500 --> 00:22:40,869 suburbs become this release 748 00:22:40,870 --> 00:22:42,729 valve, taking pressure off 749 00:22:42,730 --> 00:22:44,739 central Austin to build more 750 00:22:44,740 --> 00:22:46,989 and to make more room for people. 751 00:22:46,990 --> 00:22:48,999 So instead, people who can no longer 752 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:50,889 afford the central city can just get 753 00:22:50,890 --> 00:22:53,139 on the highway and drive 754 00:22:53,140 --> 00:22:54,999 until they find a place they can 755 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:55,599 afford. 756 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,729 In real estate, this is called 757 00:22:57,730 --> 00:22:59,320 drive until you qualify. 758 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,069 So imagine you're on I-35 driving 759 00:23:04,070 --> 00:23:05,809 through Austin and you don't make 760 00:23:05,810 --> 00:23:07,219 enough money to qualify for a 761 00:23:07,220 --> 00:23:08,299 mortgage there. 762 00:23:08,300 --> 00:23:10,289 So you keep on driving, maybe 763 00:23:10,290 --> 00:23:11,119 to Pflugerville. 764 00:23:11,120 --> 00:23:13,369 And maybe Pflugerville wasn't 765 00:23:13,370 --> 00:23:14,749 affordable, so maybe you had to 766 00:23:14,750 --> 00:23:15,619 drive to Maynor. 767 00:23:15,620 --> 00:23:16,669 This is Joshua Long. 768 00:23:16,670 --> 00:23:18,349 He teaches environmental studies at 769 00:23:18,350 --> 00:23:19,579 Southwestern University in 770 00:23:19,580 --> 00:23:20,959 Georgetown, a suburb north of 771 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:21,439 Austin. 772 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:22,549 Now Maynor's getting a little 773 00:23:22,550 --> 00:23:24,799 expensive, so you keep driving, 774 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:25,789 on to Hutto. 775 00:23:25,790 --> 00:23:26,930 Oh, gosh, Hutto's now gettin' a 776 00:23:26,931 --> 00:23:27,829 little pricey. 777 00:23:27,830 --> 00:23:29,389 Maybe I gotta, go to Elgin. 778 00:23:29,390 --> 00:23:31,879 You drive until you find a place 779 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:33,409 that you can afford. 780 00:23:33,410 --> 00:23:35,479 And as Joshua just said, highways, 781 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,099 they let us drive farther to 782 00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:39,079 qualify, qualify for a home 783 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:40,429 outside the city. 784 00:23:40,430 --> 00:23:41,689 Where nowadays, they're are a lot 785 00:23:41,690 --> 00:23:42,709 cheaper. 786 00:23:42,710 --> 00:23:44,179 But there are so many costs 787 00:23:44,180 --> 00:23:46,609 associated with living farther away. 788 00:23:46,610 --> 00:23:48,229 Your rent or your mortgage may be 789 00:23:48,230 --> 00:23:50,269 lower than in Austin, but other 790 00:23:50,270 --> 00:23:51,799 things start to add up. 791 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:53,209 You got to make choices about what 792 00:23:53,210 --> 00:23:55,099 vehicle you're going to purchase. 793 00:23:55,100 --> 00:23:56,599 Do you have a big family, so you 794 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:57,739 need an SUV? 795 00:23:57,740 --> 00:23:59,089 Or maybe you're concerned about the 796 00:23:59,090 --> 00:24:00,739 environment so you get a Prius. 797 00:24:00,740 --> 00:24:02,839 Either way, it's a monthly 798 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:03,469 car payment. 799 00:24:03,470 --> 00:24:06,199 Is gas, you know, $2.89 800 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,179 a gallon or is it $4.50 801 00:24:08,180 --> 00:24:09,679 a gallon? You know, we've seen that 802 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:10,819 in the last few years as 803 00:24:10,820 --> 00:24:11,749 fluctuations. 804 00:24:11,750 --> 00:24:13,579 Yeah. This time last year, regular 805 00:24:13,580 --> 00:24:15,469 gas in Austin was more 806 00:24:15,470 --> 00:24:17,809 than 4.60 a gallon. 807 00:24:17,810 --> 00:24:19,669 Now it's down to about three bucks. 808 00:24:19,670 --> 00:24:21,529 Suddenly, your home 809 00:24:21,530 --> 00:24:23,659 budget fluctuates so 810 00:24:23,660 --> 00:24:25,519 much with these changes in 811 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:26,299 the market. 812 00:24:26,300 --> 00:24:27,679 So there's the cost of gas. 813 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:29,929 The cost of buying a car. 814 00:24:29,930 --> 00:24:30,709 Car payments. 815 00:24:30,710 --> 00:24:32,119 And then car maintenance and 816 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:33,769 insurance. Stuff like that. 817 00:24:33,770 --> 00:24:35,659 Driving everywhere in a car also has 818 00:24:35,660 --> 00:24:37,039 environmental impacts. 819 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:38,329 It's one of the biggest contributors 820 00:24:38,330 --> 00:24:40,219 to climate change, and the pollution 821 00:24:40,220 --> 00:24:42,169 from engine emissions also makes air 822 00:24:42,170 --> 00:24:43,609 quality worse, which is bad for 823 00:24:43,610 --> 00:24:45,109 people who struggle with things like 824 00:24:45,110 --> 00:24:46,099 asthma. 825 00:24:46,100 --> 00:24:47,479 But there's another hidden cost of 826 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:48,919 living in the suburbs, and it can 827 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:50,749 fluctuate as wildly as the 828 00:24:50,750 --> 00:24:51,919 price of gas. 829 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:53,929 And that is the time you 830 00:24:53,930 --> 00:24:55,399 spend in traffic. 831 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:57,469 The time that's spent 832 00:24:57,470 --> 00:24:59,719 in traffic is time that 833 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:01,339 is away from work, it's away from 834 00:25:01,340 --> 00:25:02,719 family, it's away from some other 835 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:03,319 pursuit. 836 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:05,209 This is Rick Perry in 2006, 837 00:25:05,210 --> 00:25:06,829 back when he was governor of Texas, 838 00:25:06,830 --> 00:25:08,539 and he's announcing the opening of 839 00:25:08,540 --> 00:25:10,190 another superhighway. 840 00:25:12,460 --> 00:25:14,319 You're watching KXAN on the 841 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:15,939 news at ten. 842 00:25:15,940 --> 00:25:17,169 Fastest highway in the country is 843 00:25:17,170 --> 00:25:18,999 now open. Barricades were moved 844 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:20,469 off the entrance ramps to the new 845 00:25:20,470 --> 00:25:21,519 S.H. 130 ... 846 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:23,169 This afternoon, after three years of 847 00:25:23,170 --> 00:25:25,149 construction, the 85 mile 848 00:25:25,150 --> 00:25:26,349 an hour speed limit will be the 849 00:25:26,350 --> 00:25:27,579 highest in the country ... 850 00:25:27,580 --> 00:25:28,809 This road's so clean, you could 851 00:25:28,810 --> 00:25:30,219 probably eat your lunch off of it. 852 00:25:30,220 --> 00:25:31,389 And right now they're taking the 853 00:25:31,390 --> 00:25:33,429 barriers off the new state Highway 854 00:25:33,430 --> 00:25:33,961 130 ... 855 00:25:33,962 --> 00:25:35,409 Thanks to Highway 130, traffic 856 00:25:35,410 --> 00:25:37,689 flowing north and south 857 00:25:37,690 --> 00:25:39,639 along one of America's most 858 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,219 important trade corridors 859 00:25:42,220 --> 00:25:44,049 are now going to have 860 00:25:44,050 --> 00:25:45,369 another option. 861 00:25:45,370 --> 00:25:47,349 And the building of this new highway 862 00:25:47,350 --> 00:25:49,209 did just what I-35 did 863 00:25:49,210 --> 00:25:50,859 40 years before it. 864 00:25:50,860 --> 00:25:52,479 It opened up new land for 865 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:53,709 development. 866 00:25:53,710 --> 00:25:54,879 Here's Joshua again. 867 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:56,319 Think about Hutto. 868 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:57,939 I mean, nobody was living in Hutto, 869 00:25:57,940 --> 00:25:59,439 you know, 15 ... 870 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:00,309 I shouldn't say nobody, it was a 871 00:26:00,310 --> 00:26:02,349 very small town just 872 00:26:02,350 --> 00:26:03,399 15, 20 years ago. 873 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:04,689 And since the implementation of the 874 00:26:04,690 --> 00:26:07,329 toll road, bringing access 875 00:26:07,330 --> 00:26:09,339 to all this land 876 00:26:09,340 --> 00:26:11,199 that was easily developed 877 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,029 and easily subdivided 878 00:26:13,030 --> 00:26:15,159 into neighborhoods, Hutto has 879 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:16,449 boomed. 880 00:26:16,450 --> 00:26:18,429 You build a road, things will grow 881 00:26:18,430 --> 00:26:20,229 up around the road. 882 00:26:20,230 --> 00:26:22,659 S.H. 130 goes through Hutto. 883 00:26:22,660 --> 00:26:23,559 Since S.H. 884 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:25,809 130 opened in 2006, 885 00:26:25,810 --> 00:26:28,779 the population of Hutto quadrupled 886 00:26:28,780 --> 00:26:30,669 to about 40,000 people. 887 00:26:30,670 --> 00:26:32,769 Four times what it was before 888 00:26:32,770 --> 00:26:34,029 the highway was built. 889 00:26:34,030 --> 00:26:34,929 That's wild. 890 00:26:34,930 --> 00:26:36,849 Yeah. From 2006 to now, 891 00:26:36,850 --> 00:26:37,689 four times. 892 00:26:37,690 --> 00:26:38,799 It is insane. 893 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:40,659 And this idea that 894 00:26:40,660 --> 00:26:42,189 highways dictate growth, where 895 00:26:42,190 --> 00:26:43,749 people can live. 896 00:26:43,750 --> 00:26:45,099 For Joshua, it's not just an 897 00:26:45,100 --> 00:26:46,719 academic theory. 898 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,509 He lives in Georgetown, America's 899 00:26:49,510 --> 00:26:50,919 fastest growing city. 900 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,679 Georgetown went from a sleepy, 901 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:56,199 extremely conservative small town, 902 00:26:56,200 --> 00:26:58,029 where 20 years ago you 903 00:26:58,030 --> 00:27:00,639 had to have a membership to drink 904 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:02,939 in a bar in Georgetown. 905 00:27:02,940 --> 00:27:04,299 Yeah, you had to buy like a bar 906 00:27:04,300 --> 00:27:05,559 membership to drink. 907 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:08,049 And now downtown is 908 00:27:08,050 --> 00:27:09,729 a party every weekend. 909 00:27:09,730 --> 00:27:11,769 And for a few years there, 910 00:27:11,770 --> 00:27:13,119 we'd walk around, be like, 'Gosh, 911 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:15,369 this is perfect.' And 912 00:27:15,370 --> 00:27:16,869 we talk about how we're in the sweet 913 00:27:16,870 --> 00:27:18,519 spot that this is going to change 914 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:20,139 because the secret's out. 915 00:27:20,140 --> 00:27:21,419 Everybody's moving to Georgetown, 916 00:27:21,420 --> 00:27:22,749 it's the cool place. 917 00:27:22,750 --> 00:27:24,639 And that's certainly happened. 918 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:26,019 It's a pain. 919 00:27:26,020 --> 00:27:28,119 I mean, to get, literally 920 00:27:28,120 --> 00:27:29,709 to drive about two and a half, three 921 00:27:29,710 --> 00:27:31,389 miles in Georgetown right now can 922 00:27:31,390 --> 00:27:33,189 take you 15 to 20 minutes on a bad 923 00:27:33,190 --> 00:27:34,239 day. 924 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:36,099 And that's traffic that's 925 00:27:36,100 --> 00:27:37,449 actually worse than some parts of 926 00:27:37,450 --> 00:27:38,049 Austin. 927 00:27:38,050 --> 00:27:39,369 As much as Joshua has seen 928 00:27:39,370 --> 00:27:40,809 Georgetown change and some of that 929 00:27:40,810 --> 00:27:42,699 not for good, in his mind, it makes 930 00:27:42,700 --> 00:27:44,349 sense that there's all these people 931 00:27:44,350 --> 00:27:45,369 moving there. 932 00:27:45,370 --> 00:27:47,139 Homes in Austin on average sell for 933 00:27:47,140 --> 00:27:49,569 more than half a million dollars. 934 00:27:49,570 --> 00:27:51,249 But just outside the city, homes are 935 00:27:51,250 --> 00:27:53,169 cheaper. In Georgetown, you'll pay 936 00:27:53,170 --> 00:27:55,389 about $100,000 less 937 00:27:55,390 --> 00:27:56,169 for a home. 938 00:27:56,170 --> 00:27:58,119 If you have children 939 00:27:58,120 --> 00:28:00,069 and you want a backyard, or maybe 940 00:28:00,070 --> 00:28:01,899 you just have a dog and you want a 941 00:28:01,900 --> 00:28:03,639 backyard or you need space for a 942 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:05,289 home office. 943 00:28:05,290 --> 00:28:07,179 Sometimes suburbs are your 944 00:28:07,180 --> 00:28:08,019 only option. 945 00:28:08,020 --> 00:28:09,879 And we made it easy for people to 946 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:10,749 move out here. 947 00:28:10,750 --> 00:28:14,019 We built highways like I-35. 948 00:28:14,020 --> 00:28:15,849 There's large swaths of open 949 00:28:15,850 --> 00:28:18,009 land ready to be built on. 950 00:28:18,010 --> 00:28:19,989 And we've made it increasingly 951 00:28:19,990 --> 00:28:21,819 difficult to live in 952 00:28:21,820 --> 00:28:23,919 Austin for all the opposite reasons. 953 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:25,209 There's not a lot of land to build 954 00:28:25,210 --> 00:28:26,379 on, and there's a lot more 955 00:28:26,380 --> 00:28:29,139 restrictions on what you can build. 956 00:28:29,140 --> 00:28:31,029 I guess what we're trying to say is 957 00:28:31,030 --> 00:28:33,069 the suburbs make sense. 958 00:28:38,130 --> 00:28:38,939 [dog barking] Except for this one 959 00:28:38,940 --> 00:28:40,619 dog, it's a quiet morning in 960 00:28:40,620 --> 00:28:42,569 Georgetown. It's 8:00, and 961 00:28:42,570 --> 00:28:44,219 Hunter Holder is heading out to his 962 00:28:44,220 --> 00:28:45,599 tech job in Austin. 963 00:28:46,830 --> 00:28:48,989 I wasn't planning on buying a Tesla, 964 00:28:48,990 --> 00:28:50,579 but even with, like, Texas, like, 965 00:28:50,580 --> 00:28:52,049 you know, artificially keeping gas 966 00:28:52,050 --> 00:28:53,839 like, pretty cheap, it's still 967 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:55,619 expensive to own a gas vehicle just 968 00:28:55,620 --> 00:28:56,620 in general. 969 00:28:57,180 --> 00:28:58,709 Hunter moved to Georgetown last year 970 00:28:58,710 --> 00:28:59,969 from the Dallas area. 971 00:28:59,970 --> 00:29:01,469 At first, he and his husband lived 972 00:29:01,470 --> 00:29:03,479 in an apartment in downtown Austin 973 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:05,159 while they looked for a home to buy. 974 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:06,389 And that was really nice. 975 00:29:06,390 --> 00:29:07,439 That was like a wonderful 976 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:09,869 experience, being able to, like, 977 00:29:09,870 --> 00:29:11,969 walk or like bike anywhere I wanted. 978 00:29:11,970 --> 00:29:13,349 I was seriously considering, just 979 00:29:13,350 --> 00:29:14,909 like living in Austin. 980 00:29:14,910 --> 00:29:16,619 But once I saw the home prices, I 981 00:29:16,620 --> 00:29:18,329 was pretty dismayed that we couldn't 982 00:29:18,330 --> 00:29:19,559 find a place that we could afford. 983 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:22,559 Yeah. So right now we're on 984 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:23,579 S.H. 29. 985 00:29:23,580 --> 00:29:25,109 Keep in mind, this is someone who 986 00:29:25,110 --> 00:29:27,569 works at a big tech company. 987 00:29:27,570 --> 00:29:29,819 And, you know, paid pretty darn well 988 00:29:29,820 --> 00:29:31,799 and I can't afford to, like, buy 989 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:33,209 in Austin. I imagine most of the 990 00:29:33,210 --> 00:29:35,099 people here who actually 991 00:29:35,100 --> 00:29:37,019 own places in Austin already owned 992 00:29:37,020 --> 00:29:38,939 them before because, you 993 00:29:38,940 --> 00:29:40,859 know, three, four, five 994 00:29:40,860 --> 00:29:42,809 years ago, it was affordable. 995 00:29:42,810 --> 00:29:44,639 And that's changed very drastically. 996 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:46,529 So Hunters Husband, who's a realtor, 997 00:29:46,530 --> 00:29:48,359 spent weeks looking for homes 998 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:49,183 they could afford. 999 00:29:49,184 --> 00:29:51,089 You know, scoping out the good 1000 00:29:51,090 --> 00:29:52,469 areas and the right houses and 1001 00:29:52,470 --> 00:29:53,579 everything like that. 1002 00:29:53,580 --> 00:29:56,069 If I didn't have him, then 1003 00:29:56,070 --> 00:29:58,379 I'd probably not be, uh, 1004 00:29:58,380 --> 00:29:59,519 owning the house. I'd probably be 1005 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:00,779 renting just like a lot of other 1006 00:30:00,780 --> 00:30:01,379 people. 1007 00:30:01,380 --> 00:30:03,299 They found a house last summer 1008 00:30:03,300 --> 00:30:04,649 in Georgetown. 1009 00:30:04,650 --> 00:30:07,019 The checklist was enough space for 1010 00:30:07,020 --> 00:30:09,029 two of us and our dog. 1011 00:30:09,030 --> 00:30:10,859 Having like a yard for the dog 1012 00:30:10,860 --> 00:30:13,109 to, like, play in and poop 1013 00:30:13,110 --> 00:30:15,029 and, [laughter] as well, as like 1014 00:30:15,030 --> 00:30:16,889 being reasonably close to amenities 1015 00:30:16,890 --> 00:30:18,839 like grocery stores, and, I 1016 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:20,519 love it. It's totally great. 1017 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:22,889 But yeah, the 1018 00:30:22,890 --> 00:30:24,540 commute to work is 1019 00:30:25,650 --> 00:30:26,650 pretty monstrous. 1020 00:30:27,930 --> 00:30:30,239 Uh, we're getting onto I-35 and 1021 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,249 it's a huge number of cars 1022 00:30:32,250 --> 00:30:34,139 going about 20 miles per 1023 00:30:34,140 --> 00:30:35,339 hour. Some of them just totally 1024 00:30:35,340 --> 00:30:36,569 stopped. 1025 00:30:36,570 --> 00:30:38,669 This is fairly normal on a workday. 1026 00:30:38,670 --> 00:30:40,409 Hunter spends a lot of time 1027 00:30:40,410 --> 00:30:42,449 commuting and that gives him 1028 00:30:42,450 --> 00:30:44,309 a lot of time to think about 1029 00:30:44,310 --> 00:30:46,739 how much time he spends commuting. 1030 00:30:46,740 --> 00:30:48,959 I lose about 2 hours a day, like 1031 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:51,059 on average, about 2 hours a day, 1032 00:30:51,060 --> 00:30:52,889 driving to and from work and, 1033 00:30:52,890 --> 00:30:55,049 you know, maybe doing errands 1034 00:30:55,050 --> 00:30:56,069 along the way. So, 1035 00:30:57,270 --> 00:30:59,669 you know, time is money as well. 1036 00:30:59,670 --> 00:31:01,619 And so, no, it's really 1037 00:31:01,620 --> 00:31:04,139 not worth all the time that I lose. 1038 00:31:04,140 --> 00:31:06,299 So we wanted to know, would he by 1039 00:31:06,300 --> 00:31:08,279 the home in Georgetown again if 1040 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:09,857 he had to make the choice all over, 1041 00:31:09,858 --> 00:31:11,130 knowing what he knows now. 1042 00:31:13,069 --> 00:31:14,159 Uh, man. 1043 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:15,160 I'd probably ... 1044 00:31:15,690 --> 00:31:17,099 I'd probably think about renting for 1045 00:31:17,100 --> 00:31:18,389 a little while longer and then, you 1046 00:31:18,390 --> 00:31:20,309 know, trying to scope out a 1047 00:31:20,310 --> 00:31:21,310 place in Austin, um, 1048 00:31:22,860 --> 00:31:23,860 that, that ... 1049 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:26,309 I don't know how well it would work 1050 00:31:26,310 --> 00:31:27,929 out, you know, because rental prices 1051 00:31:27,930 --> 00:31:29,849 are also pretty high. 1052 00:31:29,850 --> 00:31:31,859 But that's what I would try to do, 1053 00:31:31,860 --> 00:31:32,789 I think. 1054 00:31:32,790 --> 00:31:34,229 On this morning, Hunter made it to 1055 00:31:34,230 --> 00:31:36,839 work in less than 40 minutes. 1056 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:38,519 Actually, today was not too bad. 1057 00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:40,379 Usually it can be like up 1058 00:31:40,380 --> 00:31:42,390 to an hour. You just never know. 1059 00:31:46,570 --> 00:31:47,919 Hunter is not alone. 1060 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:49,839 Each morning, the waves of traffic 1061 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:51,279 coming into the city are filled with 1062 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:53,109 people who can't afford to buy or 1063 00:31:53,110 --> 00:31:54,339 rent in Austin. 1064 00:31:54,340 --> 00:31:55,959 Granted, commuters spend more time 1065 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:57,549 in their cars in cities like Dallas 1066 00:31:57,550 --> 00:31:59,379 and Houston, but on average, 1067 00:31:59,380 --> 00:32:00,849 people living in the Austin area 1068 00:32:00,850 --> 00:32:02,889 spend almost an hour each 1069 00:32:02,890 --> 00:32:05,109 day getting to and from work. 1070 00:32:05,110 --> 00:32:06,609 And despite building more and more 1071 00:32:06,610 --> 00:32:08,589 highways over the past decades, 1072 00:32:08,590 --> 00:32:10,479 commute times have gotten 1073 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:11,480 longer. 1074 00:32:19,020 --> 00:32:19,919 Thanks, Nathan. 1075 00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:21,239 Thank you, Audrey. 1076 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:23,309 I like talking about all this stuff. 1077 00:32:23,310 --> 00:32:24,779 Wait, but, how are you getting home 1078 00:32:24,780 --> 00:32:25,780 today? 1079 00:32:26,274 --> 00:32:28,199 *sigh* I'm going to drive down 1080 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:29,200 I-35. 1081 00:32:30,150 --> 00:32:31,150 Happy driving. 1082 00:32:36,050 --> 00:32:37,909 The way we've built roads in Austin 1083 00:32:37,910 --> 00:32:39,889 determines in part where people 1084 00:32:39,890 --> 00:32:42,229 can and cannot live. 1085 00:32:42,230 --> 00:32:43,579 And now that we've gotten on this 1086 00:32:43,580 --> 00:32:45,379 highway, it's really hard to get 1087 00:32:45,380 --> 00:32:46,380 off. 1088 00:32:50,390 --> 00:32:52,579 On March 29th, 2023, 1089 00:32:52,580 --> 00:32:54,259 dozens of people gathered on a 1090 00:32:54,260 --> 00:32:56,059 grassy strip just off the frontage 1091 00:32:56,060 --> 00:32:57,859 road of I-35. 1092 00:32:57,860 --> 00:32:59,689 They stood in front of a dirt mound. 1093 00:32:59,690 --> 00:33:01,729 Some wore suits and ties. 1094 00:33:01,730 --> 00:33:03,499 Others dressed more for the occasion 1095 00:33:03,500 --> 00:33:05,809 in neon yellow safety vests. 1096 00:33:05,810 --> 00:33:06,719 Good morning, everybody. 1097 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:07,969 We will get started. 1098 00:33:07,970 --> 00:33:10,039 Thank you for joining us today. 1099 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:12,589 Exactly 61 years to the day I-35 1100 00:33:12,590 --> 00:33:14,149 opened in Austin, people were 1101 00:33:14,150 --> 00:33:16,039 celebrating another opening of the 1102 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,079 highway; this time the beginning 1103 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:20,719 of construction to expand I-35 1104 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:21,948 in north Austin. 1105 00:33:21,949 --> 00:33:23,449 You know, breaking ground on the 1106 00:33:23,450 --> 00:33:25,789 I-35 Capital Express North project 1107 00:33:25,790 --> 00:33:28,609 is a major step forward for us. 1108 00:33:28,610 --> 00:33:30,799 If you've ever driven on I-35, 1109 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:31,879 you know it's bad. 1110 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:33,709 Traffic is terrible most 1111 00:33:33,710 --> 00:33:35,089 times of the day. 1112 00:33:35,090 --> 00:33:36,529 In an attempt to make this better, 1113 00:33:36,530 --> 00:33:37,579 the Texas Department of 1114 00:33:37,580 --> 00:33:39,409 Transportation is widening the 1115 00:33:39,410 --> 00:33:40,410 highway. 1116 00:33:41,690 --> 00:33:42,998 At the ceremony earlier this year, 1117 00:33:42,999 --> 00:33:45,289 there were no girls holding hands 1118 00:33:45,290 --> 00:33:46,939 and forming a ribbon like back in 1119 00:33:46,940 --> 00:33:48,679 1962. 1120 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:50,359 This time, officials gripped golden 1121 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:52,759 shovels and flung dirt as confetti 1122 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:54,319 flew into the air. 1123 00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:55,459 There was no marching band. 1124 00:33:55,460 --> 00:33:57,919 Instead, they played recorded music 1125 00:33:57,920 --> 00:33:59,629 of a marching band. 1126 00:33:59,630 --> 00:34:01,939 But just like in 1962, 1127 00:34:01,940 --> 00:34:03,499 men made speeches. 1128 00:34:03,500 --> 00:34:04,818 It's going to be a $7.5 billion 1129 00:34:06,710 --> 00:34:08,899 project, the largest 1130 00:34:08,900 --> 00:34:10,999 tech stock project in 1131 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:12,589 certainly in the history of the city 1132 00:34:12,590 --> 00:34:15,349 of Austin, to alleviate 1133 00:34:15,350 --> 00:34:17,059 all this congestion. 1134 00:34:17,060 --> 00:34:18,439 Just like when they first built this 1135 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,359 highway, about 100 more homes 1136 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:22,189 and businesses will be bulldozed 1137 00:34:22,190 --> 00:34:24,619 to make way for the expansion. 1138 00:34:24,620 --> 00:34:26,238 Unlike that celebration back in 1139 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:28,249 1962, this 1140 00:34:28,250 --> 00:34:29,959 time there were protesters. 1141 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:31,670 No more highways. 1142 00:34:34,940 --> 00:34:36,575 No more highways. 1143 00:34:36,576 --> 00:34:36,579 No more highways ... 1144 00:34:36,580 --> 00:34:37,999 Building highways in Austin is not 1145 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:39,888 so politically popular anymore. 1146 00:34:39,889 --> 00:34:41,809 No city council members came to this 1147 00:34:41,810 --> 00:34:43,549 ceremony in March. 1148 00:34:43,550 --> 00:34:44,718 The mayor wasn't there. 1149 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:46,279 No one from Congress. 1150 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:47,928 Mostly just state employees and 1151 00:34:47,929 --> 00:34:50,089 bureaucrats from other agencies. 1152 00:34:50,090 --> 00:34:51,948 So you just have one 1153 00:34:51,949 --> 00:34:53,779 formally elected 1154 00:34:53,780 --> 00:34:54,649 official. 1155 00:34:54,650 --> 00:34:56,539 And this guy, former Travis 1156 00:34:56,540 --> 00:34:58,519 County Commissioner Gerald Doherty. 1157 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:00,469 I love this project because 1158 00:35:00,470 --> 00:35:02,539 it moves traffic 1159 00:35:02,540 --> 00:35:03,949 more freely. 1160 00:35:03,950 --> 00:35:06,259 I mean, let's face it, 1161 00:35:06,260 --> 00:35:08,149 95% of us 1162 00:35:08,150 --> 00:35:10,159 are going to get in our cars because 1163 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:11,509 that's what we have to do to live 1164 00:35:11,510 --> 00:35:12,510 our lives. 1165 00:35:16,250 --> 00:35:18,439 As Austin keeps expanding, growing 1166 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:20,329 outward in what feels like endless 1167 00:35:20,330 --> 00:35:22,279 waves, Doherty has 1168 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:23,329 a point. 1169 00:35:23,330 --> 00:35:25,219 The expansion of I-35 could make 1170 00:35:25,220 --> 00:35:27,229 it easier to live farther out, 1171 00:35:27,230 --> 00:35:29,059 encouraging more and more people to 1172 00:35:29,060 --> 00:35:30,589 drive in search of those lower 1173 00:35:30,590 --> 00:35:32,599 housing costs until the highway 1174 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:34,309 fills up with all these extra 1175 00:35:34,310 --> 00:35:36,139 commuters and the congestion 1176 00:35:36,140 --> 00:35:38,089 returns and costs 1177 00:35:38,090 --> 00:35:39,919 go up gas, 1178 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:42,349 car maintenance, time. 1179 00:35:42,350 --> 00:35:44,089 And before you know it, the cries 1180 00:35:44,090 --> 00:35:46,129 get even louder: just 1181 00:35:46,130 --> 00:35:48,169 one more lane to help 1182 00:35:48,170 --> 00:35:49,170 me get home. 1183 00:35:54,604 --> 00:35:55,604 Growth 1184 00:35:56,530 --> 00:35:58,479 Machine is a production of KUT 1185 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:00,699 and KUTX studios in Austin. 1186 00:36:00,700 --> 00:36:03,069 It's produced by me, Nathan Bruner, 1187 00:36:03,070 --> 00:36:05,409 Marissa Charpentier, Mose Bushnell, 1188 00:36:05,410 --> 00:36:07,359 Jimmy Moss and Matt Largey. 1189 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:08,499 Production help from Heather 1190 00:36:08,500 --> 00:36:10,209 Stewart. Technical help from Jake 1191 00:36:10,210 --> 00:36:12,309 Perlman and Rene Chavez. 1192 00:36:12,310 --> 00:36:13,989 Stephanie Federico is our digital 1193 00:36:13,990 --> 00:36:15,969 editor. Special thanks to Sinclair 1194 00:36:15,970 --> 00:36:18,309 Black, Elizabeth Mueller, 1195 00:36:18,310 --> 00:36:20,019 João Paulo Connolly, Ann Cook, the 1196 00:36:20,020 --> 00:36:21,999 Texas Archive for the Moving Image, 1197 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:23,539 the Austin History Center and the 1198 00:36:23,540 --> 00:36:25,239 Prelinger Archives. 1199 00:36:25,240 --> 00:36:26,240 There's more at 1200 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:28,400 kut.org/growthmachine. 1201 00:36:28,690 --> 00:36:30,129 I'm Audrey McGlinchey. 1202 00:36:30,130 --> 00:36:31,130 Thanks for listening.