As public transportation faced continued budget cuts, investment in automotive infrastructure increased. The social context during this period had changed from the desire for an automobile to the need for all the functions of life. The Interstate Highway Act of 1956 would provide the highways and interstates that would once again alter America's urban and suburban landscape. Growth in suburban areas increased as highways extended outward. A network that once created to serve as a congestion bypass in urban areas; today it most often serves as a ring road. This expansion of the highway system network no longer made it necessary for residents to live in specific areas based on their line of work. They now choose their location based on the social and cultural context the area has to offer. The automobile serves as a way for individuals to ignore social elements that they do not want to believe exist. Hartshorn and Muller studied the spatial evolution of the freeway era to be able to analyze the spatial economy of the suburban landscape. From this research they identified five distinct growth phases. The first was the formulation of the dormitory community (1945-1955). Residential construction in this phase was caused by post-war demand. Commercial expansion towards the suburbs in this period was rather limited. The independence phase (1955-1965), in which economic activity increased significantly due to displacement and the creation of business/industrial parks in the suburbs. Between 1965 and 1980, it was classified as catalytic growth where it is believed to have been the most transformative in the landscape due to the increase in services, employment and retail trade (shopping malls). The fourth......half of paper......the system to recover all or part of the investment. This brings out a difficult situation that has to do with mainstream society and consumer demands. If technology is invented and there is demand, it is important that communities take the necessary actions to ensure the safety of their citizens. However, investments should not be made as soon as they become immediately available because it is difficult to determine the longevity of the technology due to the many variables of possibilities. The alterations that these transportation adaptations make to the natural and built environment are significant. Decisions made about transportation have the ability to shape the lives of individuals in the local community, as well as in communities across the metropolitan area. It is important for planners to consider the scope and wider implications to mitigate any issues or concerns.