Howie Levine
UEP 232
January 24, 2013
Assignment 1
Topic 1: Subsidized Housing and Public Transportation Access
Metropolitan areas in the United States suffer from many major problems.
Two of those are lack of affordable housing and lack of sufficient public
transportation. To some degree, these problems affect all residents, but they make
life extremely difficult for the poor, working poor, and lower-middle class. However,
we can plan cities to help alleviate these problems.
With this project, I want to analyze the proximity of subsidized housing to
mass transit in the Boston or Twin Cities Metropolitan area. I want to overlay this
data with points where the population density for a Bus Rapid Transit line (BRT)
exists. After finding the overlap between these two pieces of data, I want to outline
the creation of future BRT corridors, with the suggestion that less dense parts of the
corridors be zoned for and infilled with affordable housing. This would theoretically
help solve both housing and transportation problems in the region.
Spatial Questions:
1. Where is subsidized housing in relation to public transportation?
As transit has become less dirty and noisy, living near transit has become more
attractive and expensive. However, depending on when a subsidized housing
unit was built it might be near or far from public transit.
2. Where is the density high enough for BRT?
Without density mass, transit cannot operate efficiently. BRT is a relatively new
idea in transportation so the density likely already exists in many places in
both metropolitan areas.
3. Where could we add subsided housing to create the continuous density for a BRT
corridor?
This is more of a theoretical exercise, but it combines the planning of housing
and transportation to create an urban environment where those who most
need to rely on the mass transit system have the most access.
References:
1. Talen, E., & Koschinsky, J. (2011). Is subsidized housing in sustainable
neighborhoods? Evidence from Chicago. Housing Policy Debate, 21(1), 1–28.
doi:10.1080/10511482.2010.533618
Article outlines the placement of subsidized housing in “sustainable”
neighborhoods as measured by LEED-Neighborhood Development (ND)
metrics. Research found different results for different types of subsidized
housing program. Outlines inconsistent results and suggests that high crime
could buffer the benefits of a sustainable neighborhood and that analyzing
when the housing was created/rented could suggest a pattern to the
placement of subsidized housing. The article uses many factors and metrics
that I could use to analyze data in final project.
2. Rogalsky, J. (2010). The working poor and what GIS reveals about the possibilities
of public transit. Journal of Transport Geography, 18(2), 226–237.
doi:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2009.06.008
Article outlines the effects of a sprawling city on subsidized housing residents.
That the resulting poor transit services and a “spatial mismatch” between the
location of affordable housing and jobs force the working poor to own cars to
get to work. Article substantiates argument that the working poor have few
public transportation options and the need to develop transit options for those
that need it most. Additionally, “spatial mismatch” idea is one worth exploring.
Existing data sources:
Twin Cities:
Metropolitan Council GIS site (free):
http://giswebsite.metc.state.mn.us/Default.aspx
Boston:
MAPC Housing section (probably exists, but no public access):
http://www.mapc.org/smart-growth/housing
Topic 2: Urban Sprawl in the Twin Cities and the Potential of an Urban Growth
Boundary
Urban density is required for mass transit and walkable communities.
Neighborhoods with this structure benefit by increased local businesses, access to a
diverse range of services, and environmental sustainability. However, many
metropolitan areas do a poor job at promoting density and allow urban sprawl,
which minimizes density and engulfs arable land.
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul created a regional government
known as he Metropolitan Council in 1968. One of its main tasks was restricting
sprawl throughout the metropolitan area. However, it has been ineffective to this
end, This project will analyze the growth of the metro area since the creation of the
Metropolitan council and also analyze a possible placement of an urban growth
boundary as used by Portland’s Metro regional government.
Spatial Questions:
1. Does the density for future LRT or BRT lines exist in the Twin Cities?
Without enough density, ridership will not be high enough to justify investment
in significant mass transit projects. The working poor often economically need
to rely on this system, but without the density for these transit projects, the
working poor are forced to rely on expensive cars.
2. Could restricting future growth outside of an urban growth boundary create the
density needed for a multiline LRT and BRT system in the Twin Cities?
Forecasting the effects of an Urban Growth Boundary on the Twin Cities would
provide insight and possibly the political will to implement one. Would it help create
a metro area less reliant on the car? More active and walkable? Less financially
strained local governments by increasing taxbase?
3. How many acres of agricultural land have been destroyed by urban sprawl?
As local produce and agriculture is becoming increasing popular, urban sprawl
is making it more difficult and expensive. Preserving the land for agriculture
and recreation is a crucial concern to many Twin Citians.
References:
1. Orfield, M., & Luce Jr, T. F. (2010). Region: Planning the Future of the Twin Cities.
U of Minnesota Press.
Chapter 4 of Region “Transportation and Employment,” and chapter 5 “The
Environment and Growth,” Orfield and Luce use GIS to map the urban growth
over the past 40 years and projects what growth will look like in the next 30
years. The source helps me think about the topic by providing an authoritative
and data-based prescription of the problem and its effects. The book looks at
many aspects of the problem, including race, the environment, job locations,
public transportation, and poverty. Its conclusions can and should be the basis
of any further work on the topic of urban sprawl in the Twin Cities.
2. Yuan, F. (2010). Urban growth monitoring and projection using remote sensing
and geographic information systems: a case study in the Twin Cities
Metropolitan Area, Minnesota. Geocarto International, 25(3), 213–230.
doi:10.1080/10106040903108445
Article moves beyond Region to demonstrate what urban growth might look
like with different sets of public policies over the next 30 years. Article uses
the Metropolitan Urban Service Area, which outlines where the Metropolitan
Council provides services, but is not a restriction, as potential future Urban
Growth Boundary. Also, suggests I could use third projection in final project.
E.G. Twin Cities in 30 years with no change in policy, Twin Cities in 30 Years
with some sprawl restricting policies, and Twin Cities in 30 years with Urban
Growth Boundary.
Existing Data Sources:
Metropolitan Council GIS site (free):
http://giswebsite.metc.state.mn.us/Default.aspx