Even when fewer people live in sprawling suburban communities than dense urban communities, one of these settlement types has the benefit of being much cheaper to serve.

New research by Christopher Goodman details the costs of sprawl—in terms of its effect on the bottom line of local governments.
Goodman studied 30 years of public spending at the county level to reveal that compact development is less costly to local governments. Sprawling, spread out development "drives up the cost of providing services, despite fewer being needed to service a relatively smaller population."
An article by Goodman details more of the findings from the study, "The Fiscal Impacts of Urban Sprawl: Evidence From U.S. County Areas," published by the Public Budgeting and Finance journal.
FULL STORY: Why your sprawling, low-density suburb may be costing your local government money

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
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