For example, quadruple in Seattle's density from 5,000 per square mile to New York's 20,000 might cut per capita driving in half. Only three of the nation's 400 urban areas have densities greater than 5000 per square mile. For the rest, even doubling density would reduce per capita auto driving by only about five percent. Twice as many people, each driving 95 percent as much translates to a 90 percent increase in traffic. Since ' smart growth' calls for few to no new roads, this means far more congestion.
Few ideas become popular without the backing of powerful special interests.
O'Toole lists a number of powers interested in increasing density and the 'smart growth' formulae. Continuing with O'Toole. Ironically, the push for congestion is at odds with worldwide trend towards lower densities. Today's 'smart growth' policies echo those adopted by most European countries after World War II when they decided to emphasize high-density housing and transit and heavily tax autos and gasoline. In the years ahead, they will have the opposite of the intended effect, leading to in even more rapid movement away from the cities.