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Planning And TOD To The Rescue

Posted by: Nate Berg

8 April 2007 - 7:00am

This column from The San Francisco Examiner describes how "urban planning can save the world", and identifies transit-oriented development as a major solution to global warming.

"The solutions to global warming are found in modern urban planning and zoning and three little words: Transit Oriented Development. Build well-designed, affordable housing within walking distance of efficient mass transit, and the air-fouling traffic jams will unclog themselves. Better yet, build well-designed, affordable housing within walking distance of jobs, schools and retail, and car use will plummet."

"As individuals, as residents, as voters, we must support TOD efforts, especially as the Peninsula’s population increases and commute patterns continue shifting. Single-use zoning and other urban planning practices dating back to the 1930s have become environmentally unsound and detrimental to a family’s quality-of-life; just ask the parents in Pittsburg or San Rafael traveling to jobs in San Francisco, Alameda and San Jose."

"Transit or not, a 15-minute walk to the office is better than an hour on BART."

Full Story: Viewpoint: Urban planning can save the earth
Source: San Francisco Examiner, April 2, 2007
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The areas where we have severe blight and indications of more blight to come are basically the same as they ever were. How in the world are we ever going to move our community development selves into an alternative future that thinks differently about the challenges we face in our cities and low-income suburban and rural communities?
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