Urban sprawl is endemic throughout the United States, and there is widespread concern over its potential environmental and public health impacts. It is difficult to define sprawl precisely. However, what all piecemeal land expansions of metropolitan areas, including urban sprawl, have in common are low residential density, reliance on automobiles, and lack of user-friendly open spaces.
College Station, Brazos County, TX
At times College Station has been accused of ugly urban sprawl and at other times it has been accused of over regulation of development. Some believe that city-subsidized sprawl is a requirement for economic growth, while others feel that this sort of expansion can limit economic development. Some researchers also believe the result of a seventy-five year old automobile dominant transportation system on the urban form of Bryan/College Station include: reduced densities, urban sprawl, suburbanization, increased rural residential in the Extra Territorial Jurisdictions (ETJ's) and a generally dispersed pattern of land development and urban activities.In this project, we will try to measure sprawl and its impact in the city of College Station. The urban sprawl can be measured and analyzed using the four factor sprawl index:
1) Residential density, 2) Neighborhood mix of homes, jobs, and services, 3) Strength of activity centers and downtowns,4) Accessibility of the street network
Population and Residential Density
1) 67 % population increase from 1990-2000
2) Brazos County increased in population by 25%
3)Accounted for 45% of the total growth in the Brazos County
As you move from the center of the city and away from the university the population density decreases significantly.
Household Characteristics
1) Study area for both 1990 and 2000 has a higher percentage of families households
2) Number of households per acre increased by 65%
3) Number of housing units increased by 60%
Housing Units in the Study Area
Study Area 1990: 8591
Study Area 2000: 13762
Transportation and Commuting Patterns
2) Lack of sidewalks is another indicator of this transportation mode
3) Study area is dominated by the automobile
4) Little variation in travel mode as compared to the county
From field research it is clear that many houses have been built, since 2000, in Brazos County. This was further corroborated by the 2007 Census Bureau estimates. It was also observed that there have been some new commercial developments in the City of College Station.
From field research it is clear that many houses have been built, since 2000, in Brazos County. This was further corroborated by the 2007 Census Bureau estimates. It was also observed that there have been some new commercial developments in the City of College Station.
No comments:
Post a Comment