Some planners are warning that high speed rail could spur exurban growth and sprawl.
"The Golden State, long known as a trendsetter for transportation and environmental policy, has received more than $2.3 billion in stimulus funds toward a proposed line linking San Francisco and Los Angeles by way of the Central Valley. The money is earmarked for construction, land acquisition and engineering and it follows the $9.95 billion allocated by a state ballot initiative. If and when the line is completed by 2030, riders will zip between the two cities in 2 hours and 38 minutes and pay less than half what it would cost to fly.
But that convenience could increase emigration from California's urban centers to the exurbs and beyond. In other words, it could lead to more sprawl."
Because of its potential to connect far-off cities with significantly shorter commute times, some worry that high speed rail could encourage the growth of exurban bedroom communities.
FULL STORY: High-Speed Rail As a Conduit of Sprawl
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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.
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Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service