Transportation maintenance costs and urban density: A central Iowa case study
Date
2000
Authors
Powell, Terry Wayne
Major Professor
Advisor
Souleyrette, Reginald R.
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Abstract
This thesis describes the origin and evolution of urban planning in the United States, problems associated with the traditional Euclidean zoning model, as well as emerging planning trends proposed as solutions. Iowa's demographic shifts and efforts to manage them are discussed in this context. The first chapter of the thesis supplies background information regarding settlement patterns and states' response to population growth. This chapter examines "urban sprawl," a source of motivation for "smart growth" measures. Alternative views regarding these topics as well as a partial literature review are included. Chapter 2 consists of a series of newspaper article reviews regarding Iowa planning issues. These issues consist of statewide demographic shifts in response to economic trends, land development and employment in central Iowa. Collectively, this chapter reflects Iowa growth and jurisdictional attempts to manage it. Iowa is currently in transition toward a more centralized, highly urbanized population; more than half of Iowa's population now resides in only twelve of the ninety-nine total counties.
Chapter 3 comprises a manuscript for submission to the American Society of Civil Engineers Journal of Urban Planning and Development. This research investigates a subset of "sprawl" costs, the operating costs of communities, alleged to be higher under low-density conditions. This analysis explores the relationship between transportation maintenance costs and population density; specifically, are the operating costs (the maintenance costs of streets) of local governments lower, if population density is higher? The study also employs a new measure of density, based on area proximate to streets and highways, developed using a geographic information system. The research indicates the cost of street maintenance is not strongly linked to population density; however, there is relatively little variation in density among Iowa communities. The statistical analyses demonstrate that street maintenance costs do not vary inversely with population density in central Iowa. A summary of conclusions and recommendations is also detailed. The fourth chapter includes a general discussion of the research results.
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thesis