Traffic Restraints and APMs: Local Strategies for Curbing Urban Sprawl

The frustrations of traffic congestion, loss of open land in urban areas, and many other ecological and economic concerns are driving a search for alternatives to urban sprawl. The challenge is to design development that is compact and sustainable, yet environmentally compatible despite our predominant car culture. The root of the problem lies in the space required by automobiles, which results in paved environments relatively devoid of landscaping—a significant drawback for residential development, which is pivotal to the to the use of public transit. Advanced transit engineering solutions alone are not enough to induce the public to choose more compact development for residential purposes. Solutions can be found in various forms of traffic restraints. These may be made more restrictive for higher densities, if accompanied by appropriate transit systems. In the case of new development, APM shuttles and loops, with their capabilities of short headways and around-the-clock operation, are ideal tools for creating urban infill with compact, auto-free, and landscaped communities.