Conservation Tools

Author: Robert W. Burchell, et al
Org./Source: Transit Cooperative Research Program
Year: 2002

This extensive report provides background information on sprawl, examines the public and personal costs of sprawl, including on the quality of life and the livability of cities, and discusses the benefits and negative impacts of sprawl. In a study of nationwide growth patterns which projected out 25 years starting in 2000, researchers found that under sprawl vs. compact development, sprawl will consume 4.7 million more acres, 11.8% more will be spent on local road construction, personal travel costs would be 4% higher, it will cost four billion a year more to provide local public-services, average residential housing cost would be 7.8% higher, and developers and local governments will expend $12.6 billion more to provide necessary water and sewer infrastructure.

Files for Download or Pages for Viewing

Costs_of_Sprawl_2000.pdf (3.0 MB)

Item type(s): Report or Research Paper
Topic tags: Economic Impacts of Sprawl and Smart Growth

Last modified by Elana Richman