Land use and transportation are strongly interconnected. Just as transit investments can help encourage redevelopment of urban areas, the more big sprawling stripmalls we build over farmland, the more demand for more and bigger highways.
Michigan, like many states, continues to develop farmland, forests and open space at a rapid rate. In fact, despite a lagging economy and unsettling population trends, Michigan is developing land eight times faster than its population is growing (compared to the national average of 2.5 times faster).
While these don’t deal directly with transit, they help build a broader understanding of Michigan’s transportation and land use issues.
The Michigan Environmental Council has put together a series of fact sheets and a presentation exploring the real-world consequences and the financial impacts of the land use decisions being made in communities across the state. Each issue will offer contrasting case studies; show common sense, cost-saving measures; and include a short set of questions you can ask in your community, helping hold our local and state elected officials accountable to your land use future.