RECAP: EXPRESSWAY BATTLES IN NEW YORK CITY

RECAP: EXPRESSWAY BATTLES IN NEW YORK

CITY

RECAP: EXPRESSWAY BATTLES IN NEW YORK

CITYNotable players: Robert Moses

vs Jane JacobsSuperhighways across dense

neighbourhoods“Slum clearance”: Highways,

anonymous high-rise tower cities

Next: The Penn Station battle

Notable players: Robert Moses vs Jane Jacobs

Superhighways across dense neighbourhoods

“Slum clearance”: Highways, anonymous high-rise tower cities

Next: The Penn Station battle

TWO FINAL OBSERVATIONS

TWO FINAL OBSERVATIONSNorth American expressway battles

Congestion: The big lie

North American expressway battles

Congestion: The big lie

ALTERNATIVESALTERNATIVES

Politics and

policy

Politics and

policy

CONVENTIONAL PATTERN: CAN WE

REVERSE IT?

CONVENTIONAL PATTERN: CAN WE

REVERSE IT?Rural fundamentalismLove affair with the

automobileDecentralization of industry

and routine decision-makingCulture wars won’t end sprawl

Rural fundamentalismLove affair with the

automobileDecentralization of industry

and routine decision-makingCulture wars won’t end sprawl

TOPICSTOPICSPolitics of transportationPolitics of exurban development

Counter-measuresMobilizing support

Politics of transportationPolitics of exurban development


POLITICS OF TRANSPORTATION

POLITICS OF TRANSPORTATION

The power of the argument in

favour of expressways

The power of the argument in

favour of expressways

DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONSGrade-separated roadwaysBy-pass highwaysRadial roadsDowntown loopArterialsCollectorsLocal streets

Grade-separated roadwaysBy-pass highwaysRadial roadsDowntown loopArterialsCollectorsLocal streets

ARGUMENTS ANSWERS ARGUMENTS ANSWERS

UglinessNoisePollutionDestruction of

neighbourhoods

Increase in traffic

UglinessNoisePollutionDestruction of

neighbourhoods

Increase in traffic

Traffic builds despite congestion: shortcuts

Traffic on residential streets

Congestion affects buses too

Arterials must be widened, aren’t grade-separated

Worst pollution comes from idling

Traffic builds despite congestion: shortcuts

Traffic on residential streets

Congestion affects buses too

Arterials must be widened, aren’t grade-separated

Worst pollution comes from idling

THE TRANSPORTATION-LAND USE CONNECTIONTHE TRANSPORTATION-LAND USE CONNECTION

Traffic counts guide road policy Implicit assumption: continuation of

status quo Low-density, single-use development

requires roads A road-dominated system limits the

feasibility of anything but low-density, single-use development

The alternative: LUTRAQ (Land use, transit, air quality connection)

Traffic counts guide road policy Implicit assumption: continuation of

status quo Low-density, single-use development

requires roads A road-dominated system limits the

feasibility of anything but low-density, single-use development

The alternative: LUTRAQ (Land use, transit, air quality connection)

THE ENGINEERS’ COUNTER-ATTACKTHE ENGINEERS’ COUNTER-ATTACK

Open advocacy of expresswaysThe underground phase:

Incremental implementation

Open advocacy of expresswaysThe underground phase:

Incremental implementation

“Four-lane arterial”: Scaled-down version

Bridge projects Inaccurate cost estimates:

Norwood Bridge

“Four-lane arterial”: Scaled-down version

Bridge projects Inaccurate cost estimates:

Norwood Bridge

ROAD CREEP IN WINNIPEGROAD CREEP IN WINNIPEGCircumferential routes: “Loops” spread the city

The mid-town loop

Circumferential routes: “Loops” spread the city

The mid-town loopChief Peguis BridgeKildonan CorridorHwy 90/Kenaston Blvd.Bishop GrandinLagimodiere Blvd.

Chief Peguis BridgeKildonan CorridorHwy 90/Kenaston Blvd.Bishop GrandinLagimodiere Blvd.

CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROUTES ARE OK

IF…

CIRCUMFERENTIAL ROUTES ARE OK

IF…Rights-of-way have been reserved

Non-contiguous development is not allowed

Winnipeg flunks on the second condition

Rights-of-way have been reserved

Non-contiguous development is not allowed

Winnipeg flunks on the second condition

AFTER 2020AFTER 2020

MORE ROAD CREEP

MORE ROAD CREEPRadial routes: Destroy

neighbourhoodsRadial routes: Destroy neighbourhoods

Charleswood BridgeNorwood Bridge extensions

Widening of Ellice

Charleswood BridgeNorwood Bridge extensions

Widening of Ellice

EXPRESSWAY BATTLES

EXPRESSWAY BATTLES

Balance of forcesSystem reinforces

itself over timeResistance building?

Balance of forcesSystem reinforces

itself over timeResistance building?

TRANSPORTATION POLITICS: CONCLUSIONS

TRANSPORTATION POLITICS: CONCLUSIONS

Road-dominated transportation policy Sources of support

Road-dominated transportation policy Sources of support

Suburban residents City officials with an engineering

background

Suburban residents City officials with an engineering

background Sources of opposition Sources of opposition

Inner city residents and business people

Environmental & financial concerns

Inner city residents and business people

Environmental & financial concerns

PROGRESSPROGRESS Urban decay: No longer a taboo

subject Downtown development incentives Provincial Land Use Policies (PLUP) Broad-scale culture change Growing salience of environmental

issues

Urban decay: No longer a taboo subject

Downtown development incentives Provincial Land Use Policies (PLUP) Broad-scale culture change Growing salience of environmental

issues

REMINDER: TOPICS

REMINDER: TOPICS





POLITICS OF EXURBAN DEVELOPMENT

POLITICS OF EXURBAN DEVELOPMENT

Suburban subdivisions don’t pay for themselves

Inflated costs of infrastructure and services

Tax flight

Suburban subdivisions don’t pay for themselves

Inflated costs of infrastructure and services

Tax flight

COMPARATIVE PROPERTY TAX BILLS (nearest 100)COMPARATIVE PROPERTY TAX BILLS (nearest 100)

Assessed value ($)

Wpg. E. St. Paul

Mac-Donald

Ritchot

60,000 1,700 1,000 1,200 800

100,000 2,800 1,700 1,300 1,300

200,000 5,500 3,400 2,600 2,600

WHY WORRY?WHY WORRY?

First reason: trends

First reason: trends

WINNIPEG’S POPULATION

GROWTH

WINNIPEG’S POPULATION

GROWTH1986-91: 3.7 %1991-96: 0.31996-2001: 0.172001-06: 2.2

1986-91: 3.7 %1991-96: 0.31996-2001: 0.172001-06: 2.2

GROWTH RATES (%)

GROWTH RATES (%)

MUNICIPALITY 1996-01 2001-06

Winnipeg 0.2 2.2

All exurban areas 6.4 7.3

West St. Paul 9.8 6.7

Stonewall 8.8 9.1

East St. Paul 7.0 13.8

St. Clements 19.3 6.5

Headingly 20.2 42.9

THE TRENDTHE TRENDExurban - Winnipeg

growth ratio: 1996-2001 - 38:12001-2006 - 3.3:1

Exurban - Winnipeg growth ratio:

1996-2001 - 38:12001-2006 - 3.3:1

WHY WORRY?WHY WORRY?Second reason: Political implications of the trend

Second reason: Political implications of the trend

CITY PLANNING CONTROLS

CITY PLANNING CONTROLS

DesignLocationDevelopment charges

DesignLocationDevelopment charges

CURRENT DEVELOPMENT

CHARGES

CURRENT DEVELOPMENT

CHARGESRoads and bridgesUnderground

municipal servicesPark allowance

Roads and bridgesUnderground

municipal servicesPark allowance

COSTS NOT CHARGED FOR

COSTS NOT CHARGED FOR

Subsidized transit serviceCommunity centresLibrary branchesPolice serviceFire service

De facto subsidy for fringe development

Subsidized transit serviceCommunity centresLibrary branchesPolice serviceFire service

De facto subsidy for fringe development

EXURBAN DEVELOPMENT

PROCESS

EXURBAN DEVELOPMENT

PROCESSSubdivision of farmsResidential competition Installation of sewerage, water

Edge cities: Commercial, industrial development

Subdivision of farmsResidential competition Installation of sewerage, water

Edge cities: Commercial, industrial development

DIMINISHING BARGAINING POWER OF

THE CITY

DIMINISHING BARGAINING POWER OF

THE CITYResidential competition City advantages: Location,

quality of servicesExurban water and sewerageExurban competition becomes

more formidableDeclining city control over

development

Residential competition City advantages: Location,

quality of servicesExurban water and sewerageExurban competition becomes

more formidableDeclining city control over

development

GROWING IRRELEVANCE OF THE CENTRE

GROWING IRRELEVANCE OF THE CENTRE

Exurban location of jobs, as well as residence

Remember: peakingTraffic patterns become

circumferential, rather than radial

Exurban location of jobs, as well as residence

Remember: peakingTraffic patterns become

circumferential, rather than radial

TOPICS: REMINDERTOPICS: REMINDERPolitics of transportationPolitics of exurban development




COUNTER-MEASURESCOUNTER-MEASURESDealing with

sprawlDealing with

sprawl

THE NEED FOR PROVINCIAL

INTERVENTION

THE NEED FOR PROVINCIAL

INTERVENTIONThe Capital Region PartnershipWhat’s wrong with it

The Capital Region PartnershipWhat’s wrong with it

Population/representation balance

Clashing political interestsRemember: Geographic

patterns of political conflict

Population/representation balance

Clashing political interestsRemember: Geographic

patterns of political conflict

MANDATORY METROPOLITAN PLANNING

FRAMEWORK

MANDATORY METROPOLITAN PLANNING

FRAMEWORKTaxationTaxation Metropolitan tax

equalization Exurban tax surcharge Split tax

Metropolitan tax equalization

Exurban tax surcharge Split tax

Raise tax on landLower tax on buildings

Raise tax on landLower tax on buildings

SPLIT TAX(Incentive taxation)SPLIT TAX

(Incentive taxation)Incentive for compact development

Disincentive for large lots, surface parking

Georgists – followers of Henry George: single tax

Incentive for compact development

Disincentive for large lots, surface parking

Georgists – followers of Henry George: single tax

MANDATORY FRAMEWORK II:

LAND USE MEASURES

MANDATORY FRAMEWORK II:

LAND USE MEASURESAgricultural land reserveGrowth boundary

Agricultural land reserveGrowth boundary

Twenty-year planBoundariesReview every five years

Twenty-year planBoundariesReview every five years

QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION


Instead of the complexities of growth boundaries and tax equalization schemes,

how about simply expanding the boundaries

of the central city to include all the exurban

areas?

Instead of the complexities of growth boundaries and tax equalization schemes,

how about simply expanding the boundaries

of the central city to include all the exurban

areas?

FAILURE TO DEFINE URBAN-

AGRICULTURAL BOUNDARY…

FAILURE TO DEFINE URBAN-

AGRICULTURAL BOUNDARY…

Brings the many ills of sprawl

Erodes viability of agriculture

Brings the many ills of sprawl

Erodes viability of agriculture

URBAN-AGRICULTURAL

CONFLICTS

URBAN-AGRICULTURAL

CONFLICTSSeptic tanks & the waterPets/farm animalsSmellsHeavy machinery on roads

Septic tanks & the waterPets/farm animalsSmellsHeavy machinery on roads

INFILL INCENTIVESINFILL INCENTIVESWhy sprawl is easyWhy infill is hardInfill rebate

Why sprawl is easyWhy infill is hardInfill rebate

Costs of edge development Benefits of infill Rebate the difference, or… Distance-based development

levies

Costs of edge development Benefits of infill Rebate the difference, or… Distance-based development

levies

COMPACT CITYCOMPACT CITYInfillGreenfield: 19,618 needed by 2011, 20,300 available

Area structure planDensification: Infill, greenfield

InfillGreenfield: 19,618 needed by 2011, 20,300 available

Area structure planDensification: Infill, greenfield

BEAN-COUNTING ARGUMENTS FOR RAPID

TRANSIT…

BEAN-COUNTING ARGUMENTS FOR RAPID

TRANSIT…Shorter commute timesIncreased bus ridershipReduced vehicle emissionsLower vehicle operation costs

Shorter commute timesIncreased bus ridershipReduced vehicle emissionsLower vehicle operation costs

…PLAY INTO OPPONENTS’ HANDS

…PLAY INTO OPPONENTS’ HANDS

Subjective commute times estimates

Subjective ridership estimates

High cost – other priorities

Subjective commute times estimates

Subjective ridership estimates

High cost – other priorities

BIGGER ISSUESWhat future do we want for

Winnipeg?

BIGGER ISSUESWhat future do we want for

Winnipeg?Cleaner airLess energy-dependence

Compact, mixed-use development…

…Produces synergies

Cleaner airLess energy-dependence

Compact, mixed-use development…

…Produces synergies

THE COST OF WAITING: ANNUAL TRANSIT RIDERSHIP

(MILLIONS)

THE COST OF WAITING: ANNUAL TRANSIT RIDERSHIP

(MILLIONS)

Year Winnipeg Calgary

1984 59 46

2003 36 78

LIVING WITH WHAT WE HAVE, FIXING WHAT WE

CAN

LIVING WITH WHAT WE HAVE, FIXING WHAT WE

CAN Alternative transportationInner city revival

Alternative transportationInner city revival

Neighbourhood renewalRevamp of building codes for older buildings

Neighbourhood renewalRevamp of building codes for older buildings

ZONINGZONINGKunstler’s approachCreation of a second zoning code

Winnipeg’s approach

Kunstler’s approachCreation of a second zoning code

Winnipeg’s approach

DESIGN CONTROLS

DESIGN CONTROLS

Preserving neighbourhood character

Street-level retail usesWind protection

Preserving neighbourhood character

Street-level retail usesWind protection

PROGRESSPROGRESS Tax-deductable transit passes Flex time Timing traffic lights to move traffic

faster Enforcement of rush hour parking

restrictions Bulk transit rates Car-sharing co-operatives Exclusive bus lanes

Tax-deductable transit passes Flex time Timing traffic lights to move traffic

faster Enforcement of rush hour parking

restrictions Bulk transit rates Car-sharing co-operatives Exclusive bus lanes

TOPICSTOPICSPolitics of transportationPolitics of exurban development




COMPREHENSIVE GROWTH MANAGEMENT

PROGRAM

COMPREHENSIVE GROWTH MANAGEMENT

PROGRAMHigher average densitiesIncentives for mixed useImproved transit systemClear boundary between urban and rural land

Higher average densitiesIncentives for mixed useImproved transit systemClear boundary between urban and rural land

REAL VS. PRETEND POLITICS

REAL VS. PRETEND POLITICS

Striking stancesStriking stancesPolitics as personal moralityDisplays of morality instead

of negotiations

Politics as personal moralityDisplays of morality instead

of negotiations

Coalition-buildingCoalition-building

COALITIONCOALITIONA group pursuing common objectives

Including more than one party or interest group

A group pursuing common objectives

Including more than one party or interest group

6. Low-density, single-use, leapfrog development within the boundary of a city is one thing, further development of a similar nature outside the boundary is quite another. Explain low-density, single-use, leapfrog development, show how transportation and land use interact to bring it about, and explain how the impact of such development changes as it spreads beyond the boundary of the central city. Discuss both growth trends and the political dimensions of the problem, assess the situation of the Winnipeg metropolitan area today and consider prospects for the future. Be specific about the differing situations of different municipalities.

POLITICAL DIMENSIONS

POLITICAL DIMENSIONS

What are the issuesWhat are the interests? (Who wants what?)

What are the issuesWhat are the interests? (Who wants what?)

WHAT ARE THE RELEVANT INTERESTS OF:

WHAT ARE THE RELEVANT INTERESTS OF:

Farmers? The business community as a

whole? Suburban employers (low-wage

jobs)? Developers? Environmentalists? Left social activists?

Farmers? The business community as a

whole? Suburban employers (low-wage

jobs)? Developers? Environmentalists? Left social activists?

INTEREST GROUP

REASONS TO OPPOSE GM

REASONS TO SUPPORT GM

Farmers Freedom to sell land

Viability of commercial agriculture

Business community as a whole

Freedom from government interference

Meet global competition, avoid hidden deficit

Suburban employers (low-wage jobs)

Freedom from government interference

1) Labour shortage

2) Commuting stress

GROUP OPPOSITION SUPPORT

Developers Freedom from government interference

1) Less competition

2) New business opportunities

Environ-mentalists

Dislike of cities Environmental advantages of cities

Left social activists

Growth problems not a priority

Social isolation worsens poverty

GROUP OPPOSITION SUPPORT

Exurban residents

Want tax revenues and a growing community

Want to preserve semi-rural environment

First ring of suburbs

Fear of higher densities, mixed uses

Fear of encroaching decay



Instead of the complexities of growth boundaries and tax equalization schemes, how about simply expanding the

boundaries of the central city to include all the exurban

areas?

Instead of the complexities of growth boundaries and tax equalization schemes, how about simply expanding the

boundaries of the central city to include all the exurban

areas?

6. Do you like the way the Winnipeg metropolitan area is developing? If so, offer your best defence of the current system. In addition, identify the proposals for change by political and administrative means that you have encountered in this course that you like least and make the case against them. If you don't like existing growth patterns, identify the most important problems they pose, make out a case in defence of your position, and outline your favourite political and administrative remedies. Be specific about Winnipeg problems, places and situations.

PROPOSALSPROPOSALSSHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG-TERMSHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM

SHORT TERMSHORT TERM Tax freezes and cuts are not

a human right Quality services and

infrastructure cost money You can’t build a city

economy on deterioration Raise the property tax

Tax freezes and cuts are not a human right

Quality services and infrastructure cost money

You can’t build a city economy on deterioration

Raise the property tax

MEDIUM TERMMEDIUM TERMNeed for new revenue sources

Provincial or federal government should make them available

Conditionally

Need for new revenue sources

Provincial or federal government should make them available

Conditionally

LONG TERMLONG TERM Provincially mandated

metropolitan planning framework Clear separation of rural and city

areas Environmentally and financially

viable location of development Appropriate distribution of tax

burden: No free rides

Provincially mandated metropolitan planning framework

Clear separation of rural and city areas

Environmentally and financially viable location of development

Appropriate distribution of tax burden: No free rides

Documents

RECAP: EXPRESSWAY BATTLES IN NEW YORK CITY