New urban communities, when fully developed, generate

New urban communities, when fully developed, generate fewer car trips outside their boundaries than conventional development, according to preliminary surveys by a Brigham Young University student. The results were most dramatic in Seaside, where Brent Skipper, a finance major, surveyed cottage renters. More than three quarters of the respondents (77 percent) reported that, once they arrive at the Florida resort, they hop in their cars no more than three times a week (see table). That contrasts with what planners there assume: that any given development will generate 6 car trips a day, or 42 a week. All in all, the Seaside respondents reported an average of 2.5 car trips a week, or about 6 percent of what would be expected under the formula. In Kentlands, more than 70 percent of residents surveyed report making 20 or fewer car trips a week, which is less than one-third of the 8-10 trips per day, or 56-70/week, assumed by planners (the assumption is higher for Kentlands than Seaside because it is a year-round community). All but one of the respondents in Kentlands report making 50 or fewer car trips outside the development per week. The surveys “tell me what I already know,” which is that New Urbanism cuts down on car trips, says Rick Chellman, a new urbanist transportation engineer. However, due to the small sample number of each survey, the results will not be convincing to most transportation planners, he adds. More research is needed, he says, adding that more rigorous studies would not be very expensive. Establishing that new urban design generates fewer outside car trips could have significant ramifications with regard to parking requirements, traffic impact fees, and density levels tolerated by public officials and neighbors.