PLANNING FOR STREET CONNECTIVITY: GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE

After decades of promoting residential street networks characterized by low connectivity, a growing number of U.S. cities are beginning now to consider the potential benefits of improved street connectivity. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of efforts by communities across the U.S. to increase street connectivity. The report looks at the motivations behind such efforts, the wide variety of issues these efforts have raised, and the different approaches that communities have taken to resolve them. Planners, decision makers, and residents should gain from this report a better understanding of the concept of connectivity in their own communities. The report is organized as follows. Chapter 1 describes the history of street network design, including the emergence of the concept of a street hierarchy after World War II. Chapter 2 discusses the arguments for and against increased street connectivity. Chapter 3 includes summaries of efforts by 11 U.S. cities and one regional agency to increase connectivity; it also describes the jurisdictions' ordinances and the political processes that resulted in their adoption. Chapter 4 compares the case of Raleigh, North Carolina, where the city succeeded in adopting increased connectivity standards, with that of Austin, Texas, where various parties have been negotiating a connectivity requirement for several years; these cases illuminate the importance of a cost-benefit analysis of connectivity standards during the adoption process. The Afterward concludes with a discussion of the larger issues that need further attention as efforts to promote street connectivity evolve.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1884829864
• Corporate Authors:

  American Planning Association

  122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1500
  Chicago, IL  United States  60603-6107
• Authors:
  • Handy, S
  • Paterson, R G
  • BUTLER, K
• Publication Date: 2003-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 102 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Case studies; City planning; Connectivity; History; Layout; Ordinances; Political factors; Residential streets
• Geographic Terms: Austin (Texas); Raleigh (North Carolina)
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; History; Law; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00964968
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 1884829864
• Report/Paper Numbers: PAS Report No. 515
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 2003 12:00AM