For the Charlotte Observer, Ely Portillo reports on a forum calling for urbanist reforms and doubts whether auto-loving residents will be receptive.
Like most of the United States, Charlotte, North Carolina relies heavily on auto infrastructure. This may not change soon: "Despite some of the steps Charlotte has taken toward a 'little asphalt' mindset – think reducing the number of East Boulevard lanes, the streetcar, the Blue Line extension and more bike lanes – this remains largely a car town."
Author Ely Portillo writes, "I have family in southeast Charlotte, a 30-minute drive from where I live, and if widening Independence Boulevard would cut that time even five minutes, well, that sounds pretty attractive to me – even if it's not a long-term solution to sprawl." Residents are used to free parking, and concerns about traffic lessen the attraction of policies like complete streets and traffic calming.
Reasons in favor of more 'little asphalt' in Charlotte apply across the country:
- Increased interest in urban life among (some, not all) Millennials and empty-nest Boomers.
- Sprawl and car-heavy infrastructure degrades the environment on a number of levels.
- Grids of smaller roads may reduce traffic by diverting it, rather than relying on one or two clogged arterials.
FULL STORY: Can Charlotte overcome its love of roads?
How Cities Can Plan For the Rise of Autonomous Vehicles
When cars first started proliferating on American roads, it led to increased sprawl and flight from central cities. What can we do now to prevent the same problem as AVs become more widespread?
Study: Bad Arterials Poison Good Residential Streets
It's something we feel intuitively: poorly-designed arterial roads make for less comfortable neighborhoods. That remains the case even if the adjoining residential streets are quiet and safe.
The Natalist Case For Sprawl (And Why It Fails)
Some commentators defend anti-urban government policies such as exclusionary zoning on the basis that homeowning suburbanites have high birth rates. But this doesn't seem to be true in recent decades.
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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service