More and more families across the country are spending more on transportation than housing. Many says its worth the time and money to be able to own a home.
"Shane and Christi Gaylor of Blount County, Alabama, are part of a growing trend of working suburban families paying higher monthly commuting costs than monthly housing costs. In a trade-off for an affordable new house, the Gaylors are adding 1,000 miles a week to their two vehicles, and spending 20 hours a week behind the wheel, combined, to live in their Blount County home, east of Hayden"
"She said the good schools and safe neighborhood for their daughter, Payton, 8, and son, Andrew, 6, as well as the $200 yearly property taxes are worth the travel. She sometimes spends 90 minutes driving home."
"High-cost housing near larger cities is nudging more middle-income families outward to less expensive housing, according to a new study, 'A Heavy Load: The Combined Housing and Transportation Burdens of Working Families,' by the Center for Housing Policy in Washington."
The report cites that people spend an average of $9,000 each year on their cars, money that could be invested in a more expensive home closer to the city. This asset would also provide a positive return on a family's investment, in contrast to a car which only depreciates.
FULL STORY: Driven to save on housing costs

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.

San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.

Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.

Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research