What Can Vancouver Teach Melbourne?

Melbourne has topped numerous global lists for its quality of life, but it certainly has room to improve. Former Vancouver Planning Director Brent Toderian sees lessons from his hometown for the world class city down under.

1 minute read

November 23, 2014, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Vancouver Car Free Robson

Paul Krueger / flickr

Matt Cram shares news a podcast interview of Brent Toderian on a recent visit to Melbourne. The two cities are routinely voted as home to the best quality of life in the world, but Toderian has advice to offer Melbourne. Toderian's advice, according to Cram: "The East-West Link would be a waste of money better spent on building new 'compact communities'…" Toderian goes on to explain the induced traffic effect and to make an argument in favor of higher density transit oriented development.

Thursday, October 30, 2014 in 3AW

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