Smart Growth in Utah and the West

2 February 2008 - 5:00am

How do Utah & the West support population growth without sacrificing living standards?

A condensed look at smart growth in Utah and the West. First part of a four-part series investigation conducted by Utah Stories on the problems suburban sprawl has caused in reducing living standards along the Wasatch front and elsewhere. The story links suburban sprawl with the very poor air quality in Salt Lake City and also the obesity epidemic (caused by lack of walkable destinations and long commute times).

The story examines how the strong push for affordable housing in distant suburbs has has a negative impact freeway traffic and commuting times. The investigation examines how and why the Utah state legislature continues to support ever-widening freeway construction which has only proved to ad to the problem.

Source: Utah Stories, January 8, 2008
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The increased attention to matters of urban design has forced the field to become alert to more aspects of the social and natural sciences, to transportation and civil engineering, water and waste management, zoning and public policy, and other areas earlier considered largely the responsibility of others.