Urban Travel and Urban Population Density

It is often assumed that lower density cities have longer average work trip travel times and greater traffic congestion than more compact cities. This paper summarises available data with regard to the association between urban densities and work trip travel times as well as between urban densities and the intensity of traffic congestion. The analysis indicates that higher urban densities are associated with both longer work trip travel times and greater traffic congestion (Figure 1). Because greater access is associated with more favourable urban economic outcomes, a greater focus on access seems advisable. This is all the more likely because of emerging research indicating that compact cities policies produce only modest GHG emission reductions.