Study titled "The Impact of Sprawl on Household Transportation Expenses" ranks U.S. cities by transportation costs and finds that sprawl drives up transportation costs. (Complete report)
A study by the SurfaceTransportation Policy Project and the Center for Neighborhood Technologyfinds that sprawl drives up transportation costs in the U.S."The report finds that the metro areas where transportation takes the biggest bite out of the household budget areHouston, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and Detroit, followed by Minneapolis, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Kansas City andTampa. Much of the difference in transportation expenditures is due to sprawling development patterns, as shownby analysis of land use and transportation factors detailed in the report.The impact of sprawl on transportation costs holds true within metro areas as well. Annual automobile costs foraverage households are often thousands of dollars higher in sprawling neighborhoods with poor transportationchoices. The study finds that sprawl increases distances and reduces travel choices, requiring car ownership anddriving up transportation costs. In more convenient neighborhoods, automobile costs for the average family are$100 to $500 a month lower than in sprawling areas."[Link to complete report (about 50 pages) in HTML and PDF format, a separate Executive Summary, and a Fact Sheet that provides detailed charts and graphs for each of the cities studied. Thanks to PLANetizen reader Andy Alarcon for the link -- Editor]
Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan
FULL STORY: Driven to Spend

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.

Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland