Motorization of American Cities

Doesn't that title sound promising? This process of motorization, with the grand expansion of American roadways stemming from and contributing to the spread of automobile ownership, is very much the taproot of the I-496 project. However, this book is less a narrative of the spread of highways (which would have been very helpful) than an attempted expose' of automakers lobbying for more urban highways and less electric streetcars in public transit. As the author, David St. Clair mentions, this isn't necessarily the result of nefarious intentions on the part of General Motors; selling more cars is the natural goal of any automobile manufacturer.
Some things that I think might be helpful: Did any of the Big Three's pet lobbying agencies get involved in the construction of I-496?
Also, this book includes a little background on many federal highway laws which we may find useful.
I should mention, though, that the reviews in various academic journals were generally not favorable.