Transportation
Planning History
Traditional
Development, in the early
1900's in New Jersey consisted
| of
smaller cities, villages
and centers surrounded
by farms. These cities
and villages were close
to each other and connected
by local streets. People
got around by walking
or by horse and carriage.
Eventually, streetcars
and then automobiles
became more common
and travelers had many
options to move from
place to place. Children
could bike or walk
to school. Houses,
businesses, stores, community
facilities and factories
were easily accessible
by foot or mass transit. |
The street network
common in Traditional
Development provided
good mobility and
a variety of transportation
choices. |
Following World War II,
a modern day pattern began
to evolve which included
separating houses from
stores and businesses.
It was intended to create quiet, lightly
traveled residential streets.
This type
of
| development
was very popular but
it inadvertently reduced
the transportation
choices and increased
the trips made by automobile.
This created congestion
on the major roads
and highways because
everyone was forced
to drive everywhere.
As development spread
out, we traveled further
distances, spent more
time in the car and
experienced stop-and-go
traffic as part of
our daily commute.
This led to unsafe
driving conditions,
including impatient
drivers, tailgating
and otherwise aggressive
driving. |
Modern development's
reliance on loop
roads and Cul-de-sacs
require automobiles. |
Transportation plays an
important role in Healthy
Community Design by providing
a connected network of
streets to support walking
and bicycling. These streets
serve as the social fabric
of a community by encouraging
interaction between both
residents and visitors.
Roadways that include sidewalks,
shoulders and/or bike lanes
can provide access to a
mix of businesses and homes
and encourage walking and
biking therefore discouraging
any unnecessary automobile
trips.
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