Overlooked Density: Re-Thinking Transportation Options in Suburbia, Phase 2

Suburban Multifamily Housing has been the largest growing housing market in this country since 1970 and currently accounts for almost one in four units of housing in suburbia (U.S. Census Bureau 1973 through 2005). These housing developments are typically two to three stories in height, can reach densities of 30 to 40 units/acre, and are ubiquitous throughout the country. For primarily transportation-related reasons, this dense housing type is usually located along arterials and adjacent to commercial and retail development, creating a potential model of smart growth in suburbia (Moudon and Hess 2000). While this potential exists, the actual site design…

Suburban Multifamily Housing has been the largest growing housing market in this country since 1970 and currently accounts for almost one in four units of housing in suburbia (U.S. Census Bureau 1973 through 2005). These housing developments are typically two to three stories in height, can reach densities of 30 to 40 units/acre, and are ubiquitous throughout the country.  For primarily transportation-related reasons, this dense housing type is usually located along arterials and adjacent to commercial and retail development, creating a potential model of smart growth in suburbia (Moudon and Hess 2000). While this potential exists, the actual site design and development of these areas are often disconnected and uninviting with barriers between uses that minimize linkages and create auto-dominated development (Larco 2008-forthcoming).

While suburbia is typically considered to have limited potential for non-auto transport, suburban multifamily residents defy this thinking.  As compared to suburban single family residents, suburban multifamily residents walk and/or bike more to work, use public transportation more often, and own significantly fewer cars per household (U.S. Census Bureau 2005).  Preliminary research conducted this year as part of an earlier OTREC grant suggests that site design of suburban multifamily developments play a critical role in transportation behavior and that more connections between these developments and adjacent land uses correlate to increased non-motorized travel.  The goal of the proposed research project is to flesh out these early results through a more comprehensive and controlled study of suburban multifamily housing projects in a single city.  This proposal goes beyond the question of integrating land use and transportation to focus on the role of site design as a critical aspect in the creation of livable, less congested and multi-modal suburban communities.

Using a case study approach and following a similar methodology used in the previous research, this investigation will include transportation and demographic surveys of suburban multifamily residents, interviews with planners, developers, and designers, as well as audits/analysis of existing site designs.  Partnering with the City of Eugene, we will choose ten case study developments in the City with half having substantial connectivity to adjacent uses and half having limited connectivity to adjacent uses. 

These case studies will address the following research questions:

- Does increased physical connection between suburban multifamily housing and adjacent uses, especially commercial uses, lead to a significant increase in non-motorized travel?

- If increased connections do lead to increased non-auto travel, how can existing developments be retrofitted to increase connections, and what changes need to happen at a code and policy level to increase connections in new suburban multifamily developments?

If addressing site design issues in multifamily development increases non-auto travel, it would point to a low-cost and easily implemented strategy that would contribute to USDOT goals of reduced congestion, increased mobility, and promoting alternative transportation options.

This research will lead to three means of dissemination.  The first is a ‘Best Practices’ guide that we will prepare with the assistance of State and City staff and that will be sent to Planning and Zoning Directors across the state of Oregon.  Second, to introduce the topics of this proposal nationally, this research will lead to one or two peer reviewed journal articles. Given a general lack of scholarly work in the area of suburban multifamily housing, its rising prominence, and the interest and response we have received from the first phase of research, we anticipate that the articles we produce will be well received. Potential journals we will consider include Transportation and Planning, the Journal of the American Planning Association, and the Journal of Urban Design.  Third, in order to promote the awareness of suburban multifamily housing and its design, we will also focus on presenting this research at national professional and academic conferences that deal with transportation, planning, and housing issues. Conferences might include the American Planning Association, Transportation Research Board, and the National Multi Housing Council Conference.