freeThinkBham

Oh, weird! You spend time and money making the roads bigger and better to the suburbs, all the people are going to move out there and then all the jobs are going to follow them. Then everyone is all spread out and driving farther. Inner city people can’t get to these new jobs in the ‘burbs cause there’s no good transit system to get them there so downtown becomes poorer and poorer. All of this results in a terrible downward spiral resulting in the death of the Downtown. Didn’t see that one coming.

This picture is from a very depressing article in the Bham News about a new study that shows the job sprawl in Birmingham. Check out the environmental nightmare sprawl creates for the area.

Job sprawl, Kneebone said, can cause problems in:

• Infrastructure. In diffuse, low-density development, the cost of water and sewers may be 20 to 40 percent higher than for high-density development. And the urban core may be left with a depleted tax base that cannot support existing infrastructure and services.

• Transportation. Growth without limits along interstates and commercial corridors like U.S. 280 fails to integrate residential and business uses, and leads to longer commuting times and road congestion. It also prevents efficient and profitable public transportation.

• Access. Decentralization separates under-employed workers from better job opportunities.

• Innovation. Lower-density development means less interaction between businesses and may reduce idea sharing and innovation.

• Energy consumption. Lower-density development increases the overall number of vehicle miles driven each year, making the per-person “carbon footprint” of a metro region greater.

We’re going to need leadership with a serious commitment to Urban Planning if we’re going to save Birmingham, both economically and environmentally.

admin Green