Are Urban Growth Boundaries Effective?

Are urban growth boundaries effective in encouraging denser neighborhoods, public transit, and open space? Or do they lead to high home prices and traffic congestion?

1 minute read

May 22, 2001, 1:00 PM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"The Portland boundary encircles 24 cities and 236,000 acres in a tri-county metropolitan area. It encourages denser neighborhoods through the use of apartments, townhomes and smaller lots and greater use of public transportation...Critics say the boundary has led to traffic congestion, long commutes and artificially inflated home prices -- up 44.3 percent in the 1990s, according to a Harvard study. "

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Monday, May 21, 2001 in KGW.Com

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses

The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

April 25 - Associated Press

City Hall building in Austin, Texas.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund

A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

April 25 - Spectrum Local News

Brick school building with mid-sized tree on front lawn.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards

Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.

April 25 - Governing