On Wednesday, October 29, a robust crowd of staff, students, faculty, board members, and guests gathered for the VTC Distinguished Lecture featuring Dr. Erick Guerra and his new book, Overbuilt: The High Costs and Low Rewards of US Highway Construction.

Dr. Erick Guerra speaking at the 2025 VTC Distinguished Lecture

Dr. Guerra, Professor of Regional Planning and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman School, focuses his work on the intersections of land use, transportation, and public health. His talk traced how the United States embarked on its highway-building trajectory—and continued expanding the network long after its harms exceeded its benefits. He described how urban highways fractured neighborhoods, consumed valuable land, and often failed to deliver meaningful mobility improvements. Dr. Guerra made a compelling case for rethinking this aging infrastructure by replacing some highways with boulevards and shifting more travel to transit, walking, and biking—steps that can reconnect communities and support broader access to jobs, housing, and opportunity. He also compared the U.S. and Mexico, examining how highway development in each country has shaped land use patterns, accessibility, and social and economic outcomes.

A lively discussion followed, with students, faculty, and other attendees exploring how planning and policy might help the U.S. move beyond its highway dependence—and the challenges such a shift must confront. As a bonus, 10 audience members, chosen at random, took home signed copies of Dr. Guerra’s book.