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The impact of residential growth patterns on vehicle travel and pollutant emissions

Author

Listed:
  • Niemeier, Deb

    (University of California, Davis)

  • Bai, Song

    (University of California, Davis)

  • Handy, Susan L.

    (University of California, Davis)

Abstract

In light of the increasing reliance on compact growth as a fundamental strategy for reducing vehicle emissions, it is important to better understand how land use-transportation interactions influence the production of mobile source emissions. To date, research findings have produced mixed conclusions as to whether compact development as a strategy for accommodating urban growth significantly reduces vehicle travel and, by extension, mitigates environmental impacts, particularly in the area of air quality. Using an integrated simulation approach coupled with long-term land development scenarios, we conducted an assessment of the impacts of different long-term primarily residential growth patterns on vehicle travel and pollutant emissions in the eight counties of the San~Joaquin Valley region in central California. The results suggest that higher residential densities result in slightly decreased regional vehicle travel and emissions. Our comparative analysis also suggests that the effects of future land use growth patterns may vary among different spatial areas. That is, compact growth strategies can result in significantly more travel and emissions changes in already fairly urbanized counties. This work indicates a minimum density threshold of approximately \num{1500} households per square mile is necessary to achieve commensurate emissions reductions relative to existing densities.

Suggested Citation

  • Niemeier, Deb & Bai, Song & Handy, Susan L., 2011. "The impact of residential growth patterns on vehicle travel and pollutant emissions," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 4(3), pages 65-80.
  • Handle: RePEc:ris:jtralu:0069
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jacques, Cynthia & Ahmed M. El-Geneidy, Ahmed M. El-Geneidy, 2014. "Does travel behavior matter in defining urban form? A quantitative analysis characterizing distinct areas within a region," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 7(1), pages 1-14.
    2. Tirumalachetty, Sumala & Kockelman, Kara M. & Nichols, Brice G., 2013. "Forecasting greenhouse gas emissions from urban regions: microsimulation of land use and transport patterns in Austin, Texas," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 220-229.
    3. Levinson, David M., 2013. "Introduction: The Journal of Transport and Land Use enters year six," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 6(1), pages 1-5.
    4. Houshmand E. MASOUMI, 2014. "A Theoretical Approach To Capabilities Of The Traditional Urban Form In Promoting Sustainable Transportation," Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 9(1), pages 44-60, February.
    5. Achim Ahrens & Seán Lyons, 2019. "Changes in Land Cover and Urban Sprawl in Ireland From a Comparative Perspective Over 1990–2012," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, January.
    6. Mirjam Schindler & Geoffrey Caruso, 2020. "Emerging urban form – Emerging pollution: Modelling endogenous health and environmental effects of traffic on residential choice," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 47(3), pages 437-456, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Planning; Residential density; VMT; Air quality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General

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