The problems are largely the product of a particular form of development, sprawl. It is characterized by conversion of greenfields to building sites, low-density land use patterns, long distances between destinations, heavy reliance on freeways and a few major arterial roads, and the automobile as virtually the only viable form of transportation. But our current sprawling development patterns are not the inevitable outcome of market forces. In reality, they are in many ways an outcome of arrangements that understate the costs of sprawl by shunting them onto the general public and the environment. Building new infrastructure to serve sprawl imposes tremendous tax burdens.
Air pollution causes illness, lost mountain visibility and climate disruption.
Damage to watersheds intensifies flood and drought extremes and endangers salmon runs. We do not have to keep going this way. We can invent a new American Dream of compact, livable communities. The costs will be less, and the quality of life payback immense. More people are using the road network at any one time, because we are traveling longer distances to work, school, shopping and recreation.