THE DESIGN OF THE HIGHWAY 179 



expensive than more imaginative and tasteful designs but they still 

 are disfigurements of the cityscape. 



The time has come to give aesthetics an equal vote in the planning 

 and construction of highways in metropolitan America. It is time 

 to stop building ugly urban monsters in the name of economy alone. 

 We must look beyond the dollar. We must look for ways to bring 

 grace and symmetry to the hearts of our cities. 



Granted it will add more, maybe much more, to original con- 

 struction costs, but the cities of this Nation will be living with these 

 structures long after the bonds have been amortized. 



I ask this conference to look for ways to bring the Green America 

 concept into the hearts of our Nation's cities, where three-fourths of 

 the population will live by the year 2000. 



Massachusetts, in step with the rest of the Nation, has just 

 passed the halfway mark in the construction of its interstate high- 

 way system. Like the rest of the country, our department of public 

 works is presently confronted with the task of completing this pro- 

 gram with the construction of final portions in the more densely 

 populated and developed areas of our State. 



Through historic Boston and Cambridge, we are building a cir- 

 cumferential highway the inner belt that forms a hub from 

 which radiate the express highways of the region. This is the most 

 challenging project that has ever confronted our State. We must 

 preserve the character of this area, which includes stretches of his- 

 toric parkland, two famous museums, and several of the Nation's 

 eminent universities. 



We are examining all concepts and designs, from tunnels to grace- 

 ful aerial structures. We must protect what we have and enhance 

 rather than detract from the pleasant setting of our metropolitan 

 area. We must develop the best plan. To accomplish this we have 

 set up a volunteer blue ribbon committee of architects, city planners, 

 and civic leaders to assist our department. Our aim is to protect 

 the dignity and grace of this area. We know it will cost more, but 

 why can't aesthetics have an equal seat at the conference table with 

 construction costs and road user benefits? 



We need the highways in our urban centers to save them from 

 choking on their own traffic. But let's not settle for less than the 

 best for what we build today is a legacy to our great-grandchildren. 



Let's make our cities more liveable and pleasant. 



I am sure you will agree that beauty in our cities should also have 

 a price tag. 



