The Relative Length of Roads and Housing Density as Distinct Determinants of Operating Costs for Urban Services: Evidence from Medium-Sized Spanish Cities

Housing density and the relative length of roads or frontage are different urban variables which are proportional only in the case of homogeneous developments based on single-family dwellings. However, when the impact of an urban pattern on the operating cost of public services is analyzed regardless of the settlement morphology, both variables are often considered as equivalent, overlooking the role of the relative length of roads, which might be important due to the linear component of the cost of many of them. This study highlights the differences between the economic role of the two variables, showing that housing density explains better the operating cost per unit area of services such as roads and parks maintenance, while the relative length of roads does so in water cycle, waste collection, disposal, and treatment as well as street cleaning.