TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND LAND-USE ALTERNATIVES

Abstract

TRAVEL IN URBAN AREAS IS RELATED TO THE LAND-USE ACTIVITIES IN THESE AREAS. A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO ATTEMPT TO DESCRIBE: (1) WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE TRIP LENGTH, AND (2) WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MINIMIZE TRIP LENGTH AND THEREBY REDUCE URBAN TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS. IT WAS SHOWN THAT VEHICLE-MILES OF TRAVEL ARE ASSOCIATED WITH LEVEL OF SERVICE AND THAT AS LEVEL OF SERVICE RISES THE VEHICLE-MILES OF TRAVEL WILL INCREASE IN PROPORTION. IT WAS ALSO SHOWN THAT TRAVEL CAN BE MINIMIZED BY THE JUDICIOUS ARRANGEMENT OF FUTURE LAND USE. THE KEY FACTORS ARE: (1) HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT MUST BE LOCATED WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY (10 MINUTES OR LESS IN TRAVEL TIME) OF THE HIGH- DENSITY COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS, (2) THE HOUSING MUST PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF TYPES THAT WILL ATTRACT A DIVERSITY OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GROUPS, (3) THE STREET AND HIGHWAY SYSTEMS SHOULD BE LAID OUT TO ENCOURAGE CENTRALIZATION ON THE URBAN CENTER, (4) THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBREGIONAL CENTERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED, WITH POPULATIONS RANGING IN THE ORDER OF 100,000 TO 200,000, AND (5) THE SUBREGIONAL CENTERS SHOULD BE AS DISTINCT AND ISOLATED FROM ONE ANOTHER AS THE NATURAL TOPOGRAPHY AND EXISTING DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS WILL PERMIT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THESE FORCES CAN PRODUCE A REDUCTION IN TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS OF 20 PERCENT OR MORE, COMPARED WITH PREVAILING PATTERNS OF LAND DEVELOPMENT. THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT DECREASING THE RANGE OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES OR THE SELECTION OF HOUSING TYPES RESULTING IN A MUCH MORE CONVENIENT AND LIVABLE CITY. IT WAS DEMONSTRATED THAT DIFFERENT PATTERNS OF LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON TRAVEL. /AUTHOR/

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