If you are looking for a deep discussion of transportation and land-use
policy, I have got something for you. Back in August of 2007 there was
an excellent article published in _Environmental Law Reporter_ entitled:
"The Machine, the Garden, and the City: Toward an Access-Efficient
Transportation Planning System" by Keith Bartholomew. I highly
recommend reading this article for a deep background into the issues
swirling around the CARPC debate on growth and how land use and other
factors impact transportation. If you don't have access to this
publication, or the time to read it, I have included the Editor's
Summary, and my own notes from reading the first 2/3 of the article.
Site {subscription required }:
http://www.elr.info/index.cfm
Editor's Summary:
The recent reauthorization of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act, the Nations primary transportation and
funding planning statute, has caused some to question whether the Act
fosters greater integration of transportation and community development.
In this article, Keith Bartholomew explores this issue. He begins with
an explanation of the purpose of cities and how they necessitated
transportation systems. He then discusses the history and principles of
transportation planning policy. Finally, he offers a critique and
recommendations for increasing the efficacy of the Act, emphasizing the
importance of shifting focus from mobility to accessibility.
My notes:
1) If you build it they will come:
This paper gives a deep analysis on induced demand, which works for any
transportation mode. This gives rise to transportation self-fulfilling
prophecies - if you believe that the automobile is the only way people
will want to get around, you are likely to implement policies that make
that perception a permanent reality.
Moral of the story: Build what you want, and it will become what people
use!
2) Variable cost transportation is undesirable transportation. The
further separated in time the events of payment and use are, the more
likely that mode will be used. Interestingly, almost all Transit costs
are variable and payable immediately, and a majority of car costs are
fixed, or separated in time from driving (allowing people to pay for gas
by credit card effectively separates paying from driving). The result is
obvious to anyone living in Houston.
Moral of the story:
Make more car costs variable and immediate, make more transit costs
fixed and delayed!
3) People will commute for 20-35 minutes. Whatever mode you give them,
people will adjust their lifestyle to arrive at a 20-35 minute commute.
Moral of the story: Build roads - you get sprawl. Build bike paths, you
get more density and efficient land use.
4) Transportation information influences transportation choices. Since
we are bombarded with automobile information, but seldom are blessed
with two-wheeled wisdom, the car becomes the only "rational" choice for
most people.
Moral of the story: make sure our kids get a world-class bicycling
experience before they get car keys!
5) Demographics matter: Wealth, family size, car ownership are key
factors that increase the likelihood of driving.
Moral of the story: It is easier to cultivate bicycle and transit
ridership from poor folks, single people, and other car-free
individuals.
6) Our national transportation policy highly favors the automobile.
Moral of the story: Duh.
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