My Three Favorite TODsLessons for Connecticut

Norman W. GarrickUniversity of Connecticut

TODs in ConnecticutPast and Present

In 1950Almost 70 % of Connecticut lived in the green areas

By 2000Only 50 % of Connecticut lived in these same areas

In other words, in 1950 most of Connecticut’s population lived in what we now call TOD

The bad news: these areas are mostly no longer TODs

The good news: they can again become TODs

http://harryallen.info/?cat=48&paged=2

Vehicle Miles Traveled

Ref for Vehicle Data ---- http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2007_fcvt_fotw474.html

Ref for VMT ---- http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2007/vmt421.cfm

1908The Model

T

1930sThe

Depression

1940-45World War II

1956Highway Bill

1973First Oil

Crisis

1979Second Oil

Crisis

2004 -???

1949Housing Act

Vehicle Miles Traveled

Ref for Vehicle Data ---- http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2007_fcvt_fotw474.html

Ref for VMT ---- http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2007/vmt421.cfm

Driving to Exhaustion

1946

The average American drove 6 miles every day

2004

The average American drove 30 miles per day

Cities will be part of the country; I shall live 30 miles from my office in

one direction, under a pine tree;

my secretary will live 30 miles away from it too, in the other direction,

under another pine tree.

We shall both have our own car.

We shall use up tires, wear out road surfaces and gears, consume oil and

gasoline.

All of which will necessitate a great deal of work … enough for all.

- Le Corbusier, 1935

Norman W. Garrick

Kingston, Jamaica

Storrs, CT

Portmore, Jamaica

Atlanta, GA

Hartford 1930s

Hartford 1960s

Era of Transportation Choices?

The Automobile EraThe Automobile Era

TALK about making an entrance. Intent on arriving at a recent gala in style, Topaz Page-Green swooshed onto the scene on her trusty

vintage roadster. She wore, of all things, a scarlet dress with a slinky 1920s feel. “It was to the ankles,” she recalled. “I had to

hoist it up.”

Fashion & Style

By RUTH LA FERLAPublished: September 29, 2010

Urdorf, Switzerland

Zurich Airport

Zurich

Urdorf

Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

Davis, California

Davis, California

What Do These Places Have in Common?

Population in Transit Area(500 acres surrounding station)

Urdorf7,000

Dupont Circle18,000

Davis3,000

Density Varies Widely

Davis has about the same density as Milford

Dupont Circle has twice the residential density of Stamford

What Do These Places Have in Common?

Mixed Residential and Job Center(500 acres surrounding station)

Urdorf7,000 residents100s of Jobs

Dupont Circle18,000 residents83,000 Jobs

Davis3,0003,600 Jobs

Davis has about 50% more jobs than Milford

Dupont Circle has 5 times more jobs than Stamford, 11 times more than Bridgeport

What Do These Places Have in Common?

Transportation Options(500 acres surrounding station)

Urdorf28 % Public Transportation22 % Walk and Bike45 % Car

Dupont Circle31 % Public Transportation40 % Walk and Bike23 % Car

Davis4 % Public Transportation40 % Walk and Bike51 % Car

The Three TODs Provide the Option of Living Without a Car

The Three TODs Are Built At Human Scale

Living Without a Car in ConnecticutIs It Possible?

New Haven0.24 cars/person

Stamford0.25 cars/person

South Norwalk0.41 cars/person

Bridgeport0.59 cars/person

Greenwich0.62 cars/person

TODs in ConnecticutHow are They Doing?

Dupont Circle31 % Public Transportation40 % Walk and Bike23 % Car

18,00083,000

New Haven18% Public Transit23% Walk and Biking57% Car

4,900 Residents19,000 Jobs

Stamford17% Public Transit13% Walk and Biking68% Car

9,000 Residents15,000 Jobs

Zoning Reform

Parking Reform

Street Widening Reform

High Speed Rail Good for Connecticut?