Impacts of Highway Bypasses on Small Cities: Case Study Approach

A highway bypass built to divert traffic around a small city may help reduce congestion and travel times, but other impacts on the community are difficult to predict. Because of the complexity of factors involved and the nature of data available, it has been difficult to even document the impacts of completed bypass projects. This paper describes a study that was able to identify changes that resulted from bypasses built around several small cities. This was accomplished by (a) looking at economic impacts in sectors besides traffic-related businesses, (b) supplementing county-level business data with descriptions by local officials of spatial changes in economic activity, (c) including impacts such as safety and environmental conditions, and (d) characterizing the local governments’ efforts in economic development and land use planning. This case study approach is being used in conjunction with a quantitative study to develop guidelines to help a State departments of transportation (DOTs) assess proposed bypass projects.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: DVD
  • Features: Maps; Photos; References;
  • Pagination: 17p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 88th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01128622
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 09-2112
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: May 19 2009 7:48AM