[pf] Portland Oregon 'smart growth'. 'Roads are best!': Professor O'Tool

· This front page article is mainly the opinions of Professor Randal
O'Toole, a senior economist at the Thoreau Institute in Oregon, and author
of The Vanishing Automobile and Other Urban Myths. Though it starts by
"demolishing" the case for light rail.

· He's being brought in by organisations wanting to free-up Auckland's road
congestion by building more and better roads.

· H.B. would like to hear from anyone, about Portland OR's development
plan, and how it's working out. Ask me for her e-mail address, if you want
to write to her about this or Professor O'Toole.    D.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
At 15:31 1/3/2001 +1300, H.B. (a GreenViews-NZ member), wrote with Subject:
[GV]Roading Backlash - update & warning :-

Warning!  reading this will seriously damage your health.  I typed this up
from the front page of our local rag - just received - and had the greatest
difficulty concentrating, such was my disbelief that anyone could be so crass.
  Quite frankly words fail me.... but anyone else more composed and
rational who would like to offer me words of comfort and/or info
(particularly the truth about Portland) will be gratefully received.
H.
    --------
BAYS & REMUERA TIMES - Wednesday 28th February 2001-03-01
Front page article

HEAVY ARTILLERY JOINING BETTER ROADS CAMPAIGN
By Barbara Weil - Editor


Heavy artillery from overseas and New Zealand will promote finishing
Auckland's motorway network at a seminar next week to explore the effects
of congestion and the merits of public transport versus the car.

At the Case For Roads seminar at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre on
March 8 presenters will examine the perception that congestion on
incomplete motorways is damaging the economy.

The Road Transport Forum and the Automobile Association recently released a
United States study by Wendell Cox (a seminar presenter) that the
introduction of light rail systems in American cities similar to Auckland
is ineffective against congestion.

Forum chief executive Tony Freidlander says the study should be seen by
Auckland civic leaders as "light rail's death certificate".

Mr Cox says as little as 10% of the cost of building and operating light
rail is recovered in fares.  On average the cost to build and operate
motorways, including private automobile costs, is a seventh that of light
rails per passenger kilometre.  Mr Cox is a specialist in urban transport.

Another heavyweight who arrived on Monday is Randal O'Toole, author of The
Vanishing Automobile and Other Urban Myths.

Professor O'Toole, a senior economist at the Thoreau Institute in Oregon,
is a native of Portland and was involved in the city's "smart growth"
planning in 1995.

"Smart growth (new urbanism, neo-traditionalism and compact cities) is the
latest urban planning fad," says the professor.  "It's based on the belief
that human behaviour can be shaped by urban design and specifically aims to
discourage automobile driving, promoting walking, cycling and public
transport."

The concept is supposed to be the answer to 'sprawl' - low density housing,
shopping malls with big car parks and office parks.  These are supposed to
increase congestion, making people dependent on the car.

- "automobiles have given people access to better jobs, better schools,
better and lower cost groceries and other consumer goods, better medical
and faster emergency care and recreation.  The automobile has improved our
way of life in ways we barely comprehend.

- "on safety and energy cars are better than mass transit.  A full bus or
train does use less energy per passenger mile than a full automobile, but
in the US trains and buses are rarely full.  Rail transit consumes about
the same amount of energy per passenger mile as automobiles and buses
consume about 20% more.

- "cars are faster, more convenient and less expensive than almost any
other alternative.

The so-called smart growth solution is to reduce the car's competitive
advantage by increasing road congestion - by increasing urban density,
diverting highway funds to transit and other uses and rebuilding existing
highways to reduce traffic flows and speeds.  Many cities have simply
stopped building roads."

Few want to live this way, says Professor O'Toole says.  "When polls ask
where do you want to live - dense inner cities, low density suburbs or very
low density rural areas, most people say they want to live in rural areas".

Many supporting light rail do so in the hope that others will use it,
leaving the highways less congested.  "They support high density zoning as
long as other people have to live in it".

European cities have long been cited as being more sustainable less auto
dependent than those in America and Australasia.  Professor O'Toole says
statistics show European central cities are stagnating, suburbs are growing
and driving is increasing.

"People want mobility, privacy, security, quality and economy.  Highways
are an important part of the economy and a key to preserving urban
livability. Gas taxes and other user fees should be dedicated to highways.

These may not be available to everyone and people who can't drive deserve
an efficient transport system.  That means buses, not rail.  It also means
smaller buses rather than the 40 to 60 ones dominating American cities.

And a final warning for Aucklanders from Professor O'Toole:  "urban open
space is in short supply.  To meet targets, planners in Portland (with a
population about the same as Auckland) are  re-zoning urban farms, golf
courses and even public parks for high-density residential development.
    --------

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
sent on to Positive Futures by David.
(David MacClement) davd@ihug.co.nz 
http://www.geocities.com/davdd.geo/index.html#top
************************************************

____________________________________________________________
T O P I C A  -- Learn More. Surf Less. 
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01