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Testing the Conventional Wisdom about Land Use and Traffic Congestion: The More We Sprawl, the Less We Move?

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea Sarzynski

    (George Washington Institute of Public Policy, George Washington University, 802 21st Street NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC 20052, USA. apsarzyn@ gwu.edu; hwolman@gwu.edu)

  • Harold L. Wolman

    (George Washington Institute of Public Policy, George Washington University, 802 21st Street NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC 20052, USA. hwolman@gwu.edu)

  • George Galster

    (College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. aa3571@wayne.edu)

  • Royce Hanson

    (George Washington Institute of Public Policy, George Washington University, 802 21st Street NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC 20052, USA. rhanson@gwu.edu)

Abstract

The paper explores relationships between seven dimensions of land use in 1990 and subsequent levels of three traffic congestion outcomes in 2000 for a sample of 50 large US urban areas. Multiple regression models are developed to address several methodological concerns, including reverse causation and time-lags. Controlling for prior levels of congestion and changes in an urban area's transport network and relevant demographics, it is found that: density/ continuity is positively related to subsequent roadway ADT/lane and delay per capita; housing centrality is positively related to subsequent delay per capita; and housing-job proximity is inversely related to subsequent commute time. Only the last result corresponds to the conventional wisdom that more compact metropolitan land use patterns reduce traffic congestion. These results prove two points: that the choice of congestion measure may substantively affect the results; and that multivariate statistical analyses are necessary to control for potentially confounding influences, such as population growth and investment in the transport network.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Sarzynski & Harold L. Wolman & George Galster & Royce Hanson, 2006. "Testing the Conventional Wisdom about Land Use and Traffic Congestion: The More We Sprawl, the Less We Move?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 43(3), pages 601-626, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:43:y:2006:i:3:p:601-626
    DOI: 10.1080/00420980500452441
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dong Lin & Andrew Allan & Jianqiang Cui, 2016. "Exploring Differences in Commuting Behaviour among Various Income Groups during Polycentric Urban Development in China: New Evidence and Its Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Alex Anas, 2015. "Why Are Urban Travel Times So Stable?," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(2), pages 230-261, March.
    3. Jorge Andrés Talero Bernal, 2015. "Determinantes del precio del suelo como variable proxy de las preferencias idiosincráticas de los individuos en un marco teórico de equilibrio general," Revista CIFE, Universidad Santo Tomás, February.
    4. Chunil Kim & Choongik Choi, 2019. "Towards Sustainable Urban Spatial Structure: Does Decentralization Reduce Commuting Times?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-28, February.
    5. Daniel Albalate & Xavier Fageda, 2019. "Congestion, Road Safety, and the Effectiveness of Public Policies in Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-21, September.
    6. Circella, Giovanni & Tiedeman, Kate & Handy, Susan & Alemi, Farzad & Mokhtarian, Patricia, 2016. "What Affects U.S. Passenger Travel? Current Trends and Future Perspectives," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt2w16b8bf, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    7. Ann Hartell, 2015. "Contextualizing Location Affordability: Urban Sprawl and Foreclosure," SRE-Disc sre-disc-2015_06, Institute for Multilevel Governance and Development, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    8. Peter Gordon & Harry W. Richardson, 2010. "Urban Structure and Economic Growth," Working Paper 8517, USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
    9. Li, Tiebei & Burke, Matthew & Dodson, Jago, 2017. "Transport impacts of government employment decentralization in an Australian city – Testing scenarios using transport simulation," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 63-71.
    10. Ann, Hartell, 2015. "Contextualizing Location Affordability: Urban Sprawl and Foreclosure," SRE-Discussion Papers 2015/06, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    11. Jin, Jangik & Rafferty, Peter, 2017. "Does congestion negatively affect income growth and employment growth? Empirical evidence from US metropolitan regions," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1-8.

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