• ‘Induced demand’ calls for smarter transportation policy

    Widening of roads usually reduces congestion only for a short period of time, after which the congestion returns—as bad or worse than ever. The above graph shows why the forecast benefits of more roads are almost always a disappointment. “Induced demand is the name for what happens when increasing...Read more

  • Carrying on the work of Christopher Alexander

    A New Pattern Language for Growing Regions provides 80 new patterns, in the format of Alexander’s classic architecture book, and is a worthwhile read for urbanists, planners, and designers of the built environment.
    Architect Christopher Alexander’s 1977 book A Pattern Language has been highly influential in software, inspiring “design patterns” that have become industry standard, and influencing the creation of sites like Wikipedia, notes urbanist and author Michael Mehaffy. By contrast, new pattern...Read more

  • Tiny blocks, big living

    Developers often spend considerable upfront time assembling land into larger and larger parcels. Then when it’s time to master plan the project, the last thing they think they want to do is break it back down again into smaller pieces. But this “disassembly” of land has several advantages. First,...Read more

  • Six keys to autonomous transit that fits local communities

    As cities and towns plan for rapidly changing transportation technology, flexible urban design and policy solutions are needed. Here are six considerations based on a workshop in Walton County, Florida.
    Forty years ago, Highway 30A in Walton County, Florida, began an experiment with New Urbanism—with the development of Seaside—that would spread across America and overseas. Now the county is looking to test new transportation technologies along 30A—like electric, shared autonomous vehicles (AVs)—...Read more