Evolution of U.S. Intra-Urban Evolution of U.S. Intra-Urban TransportTransport

Eras of ChangeEras of Change

Four Eras of Intra-Metro Growth Four Eras of Intra-Metro Growth and Transport Developmentand Transport Development

I Walking-Horsecar Era (1800-1890)I Walking-Horsecar Era (1800-1890)

II Electric Street Car Era (1890-1920)II Electric Street Car Era (1890-1920)

III Recreational Auto Era (1920-1945)III Recreational Auto Era (1920-1945)

IV Freeway Era (1945-present) IV Freeway Era (1945-present)

I Walking-Horse Car Era (1800-I Walking-Horse Car Era (1800-1890)1890)

1. 1. Highly agglomerated urban formHighly agglomerated urban form 2. Travel largely on foot2. Travel largely on foot 3. People and activities required to 3. People and activities required to

cluster in close proximitycluster in close proximity 4. Arrival of railways in 1830s 4. Arrival of railways in 1830s

provided opportunity for daily travel to provided opportunity for daily travel to and from trackside: commuting is bornand from trackside: commuting is born

5. 1850s-light street rail drawn by 5. 1850s-light street rail drawn by horses emergeshorses emerges

6. Narrow band of land at city’s edge 6. Narrow band of land at city’s edge opens and horse car suburbs appearopens and horse car suburbs appear

II Electric Street Car Era (1890-1920)II Electric Street Car Era (1890-1920) 1. Invention of electric traction motor stimulated 1. Invention of electric traction motor stimulated

growth of electric trolleysgrowth of electric trolleys 2. Most dramatic impact was swift development of 2. Most dramatic impact was swift development of

urban fringes-radial trolley corridorsurban fringes-radial trolley corridors 3. Quality of housing and prosperity of streetcar 3. Quality of housing and prosperity of streetcar

suburbs increased with distance from the central suburbs increased with distance from the central city linecity line

4. Ubiquity of low fare trolley now provided all 4. Ubiquity of low fare trolley now provided all residents access to intra-city – mass transit is bornresidents access to intra-city – mass transit is born

5. Specialized land use districts emerge- CBD goes 5. Specialized land use districts emerge- CBD goes up with invention of elevator!up with invention of elevator!

6. Widest impact on social geography-congregation 6. Widest impact on social geography-congregation of ethnic groups in neighborhoodsof ethnic groups in neighborhoods

7. Faster electric commuter trains superceded 7. Faster electric commuter trains superceded steam locomotives in wealthiest suburbs steam locomotives in wealthiest suburbs

III Recreational Auto Era (1920-III Recreational Auto Era (1920-1945)1945)

1. Electric trolleys, trains and subways begins 1. Electric trolleys, trains and subways begins to transform many cities into metropolito transform many cities into metropoli

2. Suburbs and mill-town intercity corridors 2. Suburbs and mill-town intercity corridors become spatially integratedbecome spatially integrated

3. Second urban transport revolution- auto 3. Second urban transport revolution- auto enters the scene with total freedom to travelenters the scene with total freedom to travel

4.1916- > 2mil 1920 > 8 mil 1930s > 28 mil4.1916- > 2mil 1920 > 8 mil 1930s > 28 mil 5. Main impact- weekend outings; auto 5. Main impact- weekend outings; auto

dependency commences! dependency commences!

III Recreational Auto Era (1920-1945)III Recreational Auto Era (1920-1945)continuedcontinued

6. Suburban home building industry no longer 6. Suburban home building industry no longer subsidizes private street carssubsidizes private street cars

7. Modern urban transit crisis begins7. Modern urban transit crisis begins 8. During Depression local governments forced 8. During Depression local governments forced

to intervene with subsidies from public fundsto intervene with subsidies from public funds 9. Expansion of residential development of 9. Expansion of residential development of

auto suburbia continues as large packages of auto suburbia continues as large packages of cheap land are gobbled up and transformed cheap land are gobbled up and transformed into suburbs, e.g. Levittown (Philadelphia)into suburbs, e.g. Levittown (Philadelphia)

IV Freeway Era (1945 to Present )IV Freeway Era (1945 to Present ) 1. Coming of age of the auto culture1. Coming of age of the auto culture 2. 1956 Interstate Highway Act-massive 2. 1956 Interstate Highway Act-massive

acceleration of deconcentration processacceleration of deconcentration process 3. Economic activities discovered “footlooseness”- 3. Economic activities discovered “footlooseness”-

no longer tied to central cities-emergence of no longer tied to central cities-emergence of beltway corridorsbeltway corridors

4. Structural changes occur in urban form4. Structural changes occur in urban form 5. Outlying metro cores—”edge cities” become 5. Outlying metro cores—”edge cities” become

suburban downtownssuburban downtowns 6. By 1993, 189 of these new urban 6. By 1993, 189 of these new urban

agglomerations, e.g. King of Prussia, Tyson’s agglomerations, e.g. King of Prussia, Tyson’s Corners , South Coast Metro, Schaumburg, Corners , South Coast Metro, Schaumburg, BellevueBellevue

Urban Transport in Post Industrial Urban Transport in Post Industrial MetropolisMetropolis

Quaternary (info related) and quinary Quaternary (info related) and quinary (management and decision-making based) (management and decision-making based) activities will dominate U.S. employmentactivities will dominate U.S. employment

With intra-urban location costs fairly well With intra-urban location costs fairly well equalized across nation –non-economic forces equalized across nation –non-economic forces now shape distribution of high technologynow shape distribution of high technology

Silicon Valley, CA-major university, large pool Silicon Valley, CA-major university, large pool of skilled and semi-skilled labor, 300 days of of skilled and semi-skilled labor, 300 days of sunshine, recreational water, high quality sunshine, recreational water, high quality business environmentbusiness environment

Urban Transport Challenges of 2010 Urban Transport Challenges of 2010 DecadeDecade

Efficiencies of moving people about the Efficiencies of moving people about the dispersed, polycentric citydispersed, polycentric city

Few new freeways-why?Few new freeways-why? 1. $$$- too expensive1. $$$- too expensive 2. Environmental regulations2. Environmental regulations 3. Disruption of existing neighborhoods 3. Disruption of existing neighborhoods

and land use activitiesand land use activities 4. Evidence that such freeways do not 4. Evidence that such freeways do not

improve traffic flowimprove traffic flow

Urban Transport Challenges of the Urban Transport Challenges of the 2010 Decade2010 Decade

New public mass transit systems are New public mass transit systems are being pursuedbeing pursued

Since 1960s heavy rail : San Francisco, Since 1960s heavy rail : San Francisco, Atlanta, Washington DC, Miami, BaltimoreAtlanta, Washington DC, Miami, Baltimore

Light rail systems: Portland, Dallas, San Light rail systems: Portland, Dallas, San Diego, Buffalo, LouisvilleDiego, Buffalo, Louisville

But ridership levels have declined—But ridership levels have declined—cannot serve low density suburbscannot serve low density suburbs

Transport Problems and New City Transport Problems and New City FormsForms

Too many new transit systems fail to recognize that Too many new transit systems fail to recognize that traditional CBD focused, hub and spoke network has traditional CBD focused, hub and spoke network has become irrelevantbecome irrelevant

Raid proliferation of suburban downtown- Raid proliferation of suburban downtown- edge edge cities-cities- magnifies two problems magnifies two problems

1. Local level infrastructure usually lags well behind 1. Local level infrastructure usually lags well behind growth in mushrooming cores> congestion resultsgrowth in mushrooming cores> congestion results

2. Reshaping of the metro space-economy produces 2. Reshaping of the metro space-economy produces growing growing geographical mismatchgeographical mismatch between job between job opportunities and housingopportunities and housing

Edge cities surrounded by upper income residential Edge cities surrounded by upper income residential areas—so most people who work in edge cities areas—so most people who work in edge cities must commute considerable distances from must commute considerable distances from affordable housing affordable housing