Do Highways Matter? Evidence and Policy Implications of Highways' Influence on Metropolitan Development

Growing concerns about traffic congestion and rapid suburban expansion (also known as sprawl) have reignited interest in the ways in which highway spending affects metropolitan growth patterns. This discussion paper extracts the best evidence to date on how highway investments distribute growth and economic activity across metropolitan areas. The paper also offers ideas on how transportation financing and policies can better respond to the various costs and benefits of highway projects in a region

Do Highways Matter? Evidence and Policy Implications of Highways' Influence on Metropolitan Development

Growing concerns about traffic congestion and rapid suburban expansion (also known as sprawl) have reignited interest in the ways in which highway spending affects metropolitan growth patterns. This discussion paper extracts the best evidence to date on how highway investments distribute growth and economic activity across metropolitan areas. The paper also offers ideas on how transportation financing and policies can better respond to the various costs and benefits of highway projects in a region.Urban Studies and Planning