The Benefits of Density Density and Public Transportation Support Economic Strength

During the 2000s… Americas grows… in two directions…  Suburbs and smaller cities Robust population growth  Established central cities Economic revitalization Population growth in some areas Real Estate driven economic boom  Gov’t policies (low interest rates)  Easy access to credit  Information technology  Entrepreneurial spirit of capitalism

Escalating Gas Prices

During the 2000s… By 2007, housing industry running out of steam  Properties begin to devalue  “Fastest-growing” and farthest-flung areas hit hardest  Lower-income families pinched Gas prices Mortgages and/or housing costs  Escalating transportation costs (car/gas driven)  Escalating poverty rate in suburbs

54 Metro Areas w/ At Least 1 Million People* *2000 Census based on 1999 MSA definitions, or American Community Survey based on 2003 CBSA definitions

Importance of Metro Areas More people live outside central cities than within them  Suburbs account for majority of American population People travel across city/town and county lines for work and play Many suburbs still look to central cities for economic and social identity  In some cases, starting to change

Change in Metro Area Definition Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines Metro Areas Revised standard in 2003  Previously – Metropolitan Statistical Area Central-city based Commuting relationship between central city and outlying counties Density of outlying counties  New – Core Based Statistical Area Examine commuting patterns between counties # of metropolitan statistical areas grows from 280 to 362 Smaller, but likely more dense Account for suburban growth, and to some degree, independence from “central cities”

Compared 2000 Census and ACS 2000 Census  Decennial  Entire population 1/6 of households – longer-form survey – housing and economic status  Metro Area statistics CBSA standard for basic information (i.e. population) MSA standard for characteristics American Community Survey (ACS)  Surveys 2 million households each year First official survey in year average reduces margin of error Info on geographic areas with pop of 20K or greater (Annual info for areas with pop of 65K or greater) Limitation - economic and social change during time period  CBSA standard for all metro area data More characteristics, but some variables unavailable

Compared 2000 Census and ACS Metro Areas are fluid  Population and economic shifts dictate changes  OMB reviews standards every 10 years  Potential revision in 2013 Counties are building blocks of Metro Areas

Low Density & Large – Ample Space

Ample Space Is Consumed

Few Non-Auto Based Transit Options

Buses help to some degree Every metro area has a public bus transportation system Density – supports effectiveness Transportation systems are costly to build and maintain  Density – location-based ‘economies of scale’