Survey shows demand for smart development, mass transit
Most Americans think better growth planning and more mass transit options are better ways to solve traffic congestion than building more roads, according to a survey by Washington-based Smart Growth America. Nearly half of the respondents to the survey said improving public transit is the best solution to congestion, while 26 percent supported designing communities that reduce the need to drive.
The 2007 Growth and Transportation Survey asked respondents how development affects their communities. While traffic congestion was a major concern, respondents also said they worried about the loss of farmland and open space to development, and the erosion of their communities’ character and historic landmarks. Development’s contribution to climate change also was a concern for more than 70 percent of respondents.
The Chicago-based National Association of Realtors co-sponsored the survey, which is available at http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/narsgareport2007.html.
