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Congestion, Changing Metropolitan Structure, and City Size in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Gordon

    (School of Urban and Regional Planning and Department of Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA)

  • Ajay Kumar

    (School of Urban and Regional Planning and Department of Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA)

  • Harry W. Richardson

    (School of Urban and Regional Planning and Department of Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA)

Abstract

Using the Nationwide Personal Transportation Study surveys of 1977 and 1983-84, this article demonstrates that there is no discernible relationship between city size class and trip lengths, times, and speeds, and that commuting speeds did not decline between 1977 and 1983. The most convincing explanation of why congestion did not become more severe is the continued spatial decentralization of both firms and households, which permitted travel economies, especially for suburban residents in larger cities. The continued competitiveness of the large metropolitan areas is mainly attributable to this adjustment process.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Gordon & Ajay Kumar & Harry W. Richardson, 1989. "Congestion, Changing Metropolitan Structure, and City Size in the United States," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 12(1), pages 45-56, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inrsre:v:12:y:1989:i:1:p:45-56
    DOI: 10.1177/016001768901200103
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gordon, Peter & Kumar, Ajay & Richardson, Harry W., 1989. "The influence of metropolitan spatial structure on commuting time," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 138-151, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ahmad, Sohail & Puppim de Oliveira, Jose A., 2016. "Determinants of urban mobility in India: Lessons for promoting sustainable and inclusive urban transportation in developing countries," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 106-114.
    2. Iacono, Michael & Levinson, David, 2016. "Mutual causality in road network growth and economic development," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 209-217.
    3. Jie Zhang & Yang Xie, 2015. "Optimal Intra-Urban Hierarchy of Activity Centers—A Minimized Household Travel Energy Consumption Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Sweet, Matthias N., 2014. "Do firms flee traffic congestion?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 40-49.
    5. Vincent-Geslin, Stephanie & Ravalet, Emmanuel, 2016. "Determinants of extreme commuting. Evidence from Brussels, Geneva and Lyon," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 240-247.
    6. García-Palomares, Juan Carlos, 2010. "Urban sprawl and travel to work: the case of the metropolitan area of Madrid," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 197-213.
    7. Zhao, Pengjun & Lu, Bin, 2010. "Exploring job accessibility in the transformation context: an institutionalist approach and its application in Beijing," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 393-401.
    8. Levine, Jonathan C., 1990. "Employment Suburbanization and the Journey to Work," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt05c8750h, University of California Transportation Center.
    9. Myung‐Jin Jun, 2009. "Economic Impacts Of Seoul'S Job Decentralization: A Metropolitan Input–Output Analysis," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(2), pages 311-327, May.

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