Exploring the Implications of Urban Sprawl Management

through the Environment, the Economy, and the Automobile

Conner Bradley, ENVS Senior Seminar 2015

INTRODUCTION: TERMS

Urban Sprawl: A dynamic, uncontrolled process of urban expansion along transportation corridors, leading to advancement of low density development

Urbanization: A population shift from rural to urban areas, the gradual increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas.

Suburbanization: A general trend of city dwellers to move from the city into residential areas in ever-growing concentric circles away from the city's core. It is one of the many causes of the increase in urban sprawl

Population Density: Human population per unit area.

Core VS. Fringe: The core refers to a concentration of high density urbanization, usually at the center of the city, fringe refers to a low density area usually at the exurban perimeter

INTRODUCTION: THE PATTERNS

(http://www.academia.edu/7311151/Ideas_of_Urban_Sprawl_Urban_Rural_Fringe_Optimum_Size_of_a_city_and_Downtown_An_Academic_Research)

INTRODUCTION: THE PATTERNS

1970 Population: 806,102 1990 Population: 944,179

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/circ1252/)

INTRODUCTION: THE PATTERNS

1970 Population: 971,228 Red areas shown as developed land 148,500 acres (232 square miles)

1990 Population: 2,122,101 Red areas shown as developed land 301,400 acres (471 square miles)

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/circ1252/)

INTRODUCTION: THE PATTERNS

- 1970 Population - 1,750,339

- 1990 Population - 2,444,477 - Red areas shown as developed land

339,400 acres (530 square miles)

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/circ1252/)

INTRODUCTION: THE FACTS

Why is this a problem?(http://www.welbornfreedomwatch.org/2012/06/un-agenda-21-iclei-private-property.html)

THE ENVIRONMENT

Loss of Ecosystem Services: Carbon Sequestration, flood control, pollination, nitrogen fixation.

Loss of Biodiversity: homogenization of landscape, extinction, soil degradation.

Habitat fragmentation: human/wildlife conflict, limited dispersal, population loss.

Land Loss: Farmland, rangeland, forests.

Impervious surfaces: Polluted runoff, heat island effect

HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

“Heat islands can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and mortality, and water quality.” (http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/)

THE AUTOMOBILE

Air Pollution - Health hazards from air pollution are well known and lead to “worse lung function, more emergency room visits and hospitalizations, more medication use, more absentness from school and work.”(2)

Fossil Fuel Emissions – “Sprawl related growth of urban transport and greenhouse gas emissions have major implications for global warming and climate change.” (4)

Gas and Energy Costs – “The overall cost (based on wasted fuel and lost productivity) reached $87.2 billion in 2007 - more than $750 for every U.S. traveler.”(3)

THE ECONOMY

“In 1960, income in cities was 105 percent of their surrounding suburbs. By 1990, that ratio fell to 84 percent. From 1970 to 1995, poverty rates in cities rose from 12.6 percent to just over 20 percent.” (5)

Income Inequality: Wealth moves to suburbs, businesses follow. As a result, a physical gap separates wealthy communities from poor communities

Poverty: Low income residents are unable to pay the cost of commuting and relocating is financially difficult. Less opportunities for jobs reinforce poverty, crime, and social issues.

THE ECONOMY

Urban sprawl costs the American economy more than US$1 trillion annually, according to a new study by the New Climate Economy. (6)

Think here, health costs, energy costs, environmental, and social costs add up somewhere…

PORTLAND

- In 1979, the city created an urban growth boundary (UGB) around the metropolitan area that “encourages investment in the downtown and central city areas while discouraging development beyond that boundary.”(7)

- The boundary controls urban expansion onto farm, forest, and resource lands.

- Due to continued sprawl in the area, the growth boundary has been expanded three dozen times since it was first drawn.

….Did Portland’s UGB control sprawl, curtail automobile usage, and maintain mobility?

MOVING FORWARD

A consensus has not been made about Portland’s UGB success..

What is a successful policy?

1. Active and efficient management of Urban development2. Reduction of economic and environmental externalities3. Improved standard of living

MOVING FORWARD

Simplify the goals – Portland went a complex way, and it didn’t seem to pay off.

Consider regional UGBs VS Local: So growth was restricted in Portland, but consequently a nearby municipality experienced extreme growth… Increasing cooperation among state and local government could help this issue. – With more expansive UGB implementation, different results could have been seen.

Consider public and private partnerships: How can both parties benefit?

Educate public about Urban Sprawl: Leads to more awareness, participation from educated stakeholders introduces new ideas and incentives to brainstorm solutions.

MOVING FORWARD

Start at the root of the Urban Sprawl problem…..

Urban Sprawl: a multifaceted concept centered around the expansion of auto-oriented, low-density development.(8)

MOVING FORWARD

Cars can be linked to nearly every problem associated with urban sprawl… Environmental degradation, economic externalities, limited socio-economic mobility.

The ability to travel by car, while it should not be restricted, it must be reformed. Here is a simple idea that is likely to benefit both the economy and the environment in the long term:

Fuel/ Energy Tax.. Increase tax at the pump, requiring those who log the most miles to pay more taxes for their consumption. This tax will go directly towards integrating efficient public transportation systems into urban infrastructure.

New urban transport infrastructure will connect individuals and businesses across townships, limit traffic congestion, and reduce the need for automobiles

MOVING FORWARD

While regional energy policies can enforce an increased reliance on efficient transport systems, private business can also benefit..

Additionally, while car companies may not like this, they will be forced to innovate design. Moving from a car based community to a public transit friendly one will encourage car companies to create more efficient technology, ensuring that owners pay less energy tax per commute.

Less money will be wasted in traffic, money that can go towards integrating cleaner fuel systems. As a result of less car travel, the environmental and economic externalities will be eliminated.

A community that enjoys clean air and an efficient economy with less income inequality is certain to experience a higher quality of life, regardless of the size of their engine.

MORE SOLUTIONS

1. Fuel tax2. Subsidize transportation solutions3. Reuse of existing land and infrastructure4. Restrictions on developing outside suburban areas5. Concentration of residential and commercial development in central

locations and along the lines of mass transit arteries.6. Creation of area wide revenue sharing and regional investment

pools7. Smart Growth8. Walkable, Bikeable, sustainable future..

REFERENCES

1. http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/ - heat island quote2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497432/pdf/12432132.pdf - (Heat Island and Air Pollution) 3. http://www.metro-magazine.com/bus/news/283538/report-economy-impacting-traffic - (Energy Externalities)4. http://eprints.uni-kiel.de/20777/1/gi412.pdf#page=46 – (fossil fuel emissions)5. https://books.google.com/books?

hl=en&lr=&id=1s0URQ6sYyIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=urban+sprawl+policy&ots=IUPaISK6vw&sig=t4NeGiXamVXdbeSRRWU5Gh0fx4Q#v=onepage&q=urban%20sprawl%20policy&f=false – (E book facts, poverty)

6. http://newclimateeconomy.report/ - New climate7. http://urizen-geography.nsm.du.edu/~psutton/AAA_Sutton_WebPage/Sutton/Courses/

Geog_4020_Geographic_Research_Methodology/Course_Documents/Seminal_Papers_Geography/UGB_Portland.pdf - (Portland UGB)8. http://www.roadcrazed.com/urban-sprawl-its-effects-and-solutions/ - (Sprawl Definition by cars)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------Image References---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. http://aidwatchers.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Lights-at-night.png - World lights10. http://www.academia.edu/7311151/

Ideas_of_Urban_Sprawl_Urban_Rural_Fringe_Optimum_Size_of_a_city_and_Downtown_An_Academic_Research - Sprawl diagram11. http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/circ1252/ - USGS sprawl12. http://www.welbornfreedomwatch.org/2012/06/un-agenda-21-iclei-private-property.html - Land Use Pie Chart

Image References:

1. http://aidwatchers.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Lights-at-night.png - World lights

2. http://www.academia.edu/7311151/Ideas_of_Urban_Sprawl_Urban_Rural_Fringe_Optimum_Size_of_a_city_and_Downtown_An_Academic_Research - Sprawl diagram

3. http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/circ1252/ - USGS sprawl4. http://www.welbornfreedomwatch.org/2012/06/un-agenda-21-icle

i-private-property.html - Land Use Pie Chart

References:

1. http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/ - heat island quote2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497432/pdf/12432132.pdf - (Heat Island and

Air Pollution) 3. http://www.metro-magazine.com/bus/news/283538/report-economy-impacting-traffic -

(Energy Externalities)4. http://eprints.uni-kiel.de/20777/1/gi412.pdf#page=46 – (fossil fuel emissions)5. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&

id=1s0URQ6sYyIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=urban+sprawl+policy&ots=IUPaISK6vw&sig=t4NeGiXamVXdbeSRRWU5Gh0fx4Q#v=onepage&q=urban%20sprawl%20policy&f=false – E book facts, poverty

6. http://newclimateeconomy.report/ - New climate7. http://urizen-geography.nsm.du.edu/~

psutton/AAA_Sutton_WebPage/Sutton/Courses/Geog_4020_Geographic_Research_Methodology/Course_Documents/Seminal_Papers_Geography/UGB_Portland.pdf - (Portland UGB)

8. http://www.roadcrazed.com/urban-sprawl-its-effects-and-solutions/ - (SprawlDefinition by cars)