More Smart-Growth – Less Driving

Streetsblog points us to a new study that shows that Smart-growth development reduces Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) by as much as 20%.

“The study, published in the B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy, set out to determine if smart growth or taxation strategies like increasing the fuel tax has a bigger impact on driving behavior. His finding was that smart growth produced a bigger return: 18 percent reduction for taxing versus 20 percent for smart growth.”

Why is this important? Because people against Smart-growth typically cite increased traffic as a reason to block smart-growth development. It can also effect street design, impact fees, etc.

Little Italy - a dense, mixed-use area with good public transit and enhanced public realm

“Further, the study found that if mid-sized California cities like Modesto, Fresno and Bakersfield had similar density and transit amenities as some of the state’s larger cities — the Bay Area and Los Angeles — they could expect to see a 55 percent reduction in per household driving activity, or about 5,238 miles per year.”

That’s big savings, and an improved quality of life.