Turning cities inside out: transportation and the resurgence of downtowns in North America
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Turning cities inside out: transportation and the resurgence of downtowns in North America Martin Wachs
Published online: 18 October 2013 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013
Abstract North American urban areas have changed dramatically over the last four decades. While downtowns were thought to be in long-term decline 40 years ago, central business districts are today the most vibrant residential and commercial centers throughout a largely suburban continent. This paper examines the role of transportation technology and policy in the earlier decline and recent revival of American downtowns and examines challenges to the continuation of urban regeneration. Major recent investments in physical improvements in central cities have been complemented by a dramatic shift in the locus of logistical and goods processing activities from city centers to outlying areas. While many tout the energy efficiency and environmental benefits of walkable and denser inner cities, a more complete accounting of their impacts also requires analysis of increasing urban congestion and the steady rise in urban goods movement in support of the new development patterns. Keywords
Land use Urban form Policy North America Freight
Prelude It has been a pleasure and privilege to be associated with Transportation throughout the tenure of Martin Richards, who has led its growth and development since its fledgling days. I have enjoyed watching this journal grow steadily to prominence among academic transportation journals as Martin deftly guided numerous authors, editorial board members, and publishers’ representatives. He was the gatekeeper both assuring the highest standards and sometimes taking risks as appropriate, for example, when young scholars submitted
Manuscript submitted to TRANSPORTATION for the special issue in honor of the retirement of editor Martin Richards. M. Wachs (&) Rand Cooperation, Santa Monica, CA, USA e-mail: [email protected]
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Transportation (2013) 40:1159–1172
unconventional manuscripts that could be path breaking but just as well could be flops. Martin always sought advice from those of us who cared about the Journal, yet he accepted responsibility for decisions with respect to editorial policy and manuscript selection. There is no question that the rising importance of this Journal is the most fitting tribute to his judgment and commitment to his task. We wish him good health and happiness as he retires from this work.
Four decades of change in North American cities and transport The North American transportation system has changed dramatically during Martin’s four decades as editor. This is partly the result of dramatic changes in transportation technology which have had substantial impacts upon the economy. In many cases policymakers have been slow to recognize the social value of emergent technologies, but over time the influences of technological innovations have motivated increasingly influential policy shifts that have accelerated the speed of urban restructuring. Since the beginning
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