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Part of the case for higher density development is based on the belief that compact urban forms are more efficient than low density development known as suburban sprawl. Some broad relationships among driving, transit use, urban form, and congestion using urban area data, and special analysis of the 1990 National Personal Transportation Survey are examined. Although generally supporting the prevailing wisdom, the regional data show that there are other factors involved in explaining such differences, and the national household data present a less robust relationship. The national data show that there are significant differences in the household characteristics of persons living at different density levels—characteristics that are themselves important determinants of travel. Issues relating to these findings in the context of public policies on development and transportation are explored.
Dunphy et al. (Mon,) studied this question.