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Measuring the Structure of U.S. Metropolitan Areas, 1970–2000

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  • Jiawen Yang
  • Steven French
  • James Holt
  • Xingyou Zhang

Abstract

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Metropolitan planning organizations attempt to shape urban form at the regional and metropolitan scale, including the pattern of suburban centers. How do these efforts change behavior? Our study informs that question by way of a new family of urban form metrics summarizing the polycentric structure of U.S. metropolitan areas. Using a spatial statistical approach, these measures are sensitive to the size, amount, and location of suburban centers. The article then tests the influence of these structures on commute times nationally from 1970 to 2000. Takeaway for practice: The influence of development densities on travel in sprawling regions is more complicated than previously understood or measured. While the level of both neighborhood density and regional density explain average commuting times, density also works relatively. The spatial variation of density, the density of suburban centers relative to the region, and the spatial distribution of high-density nodes each appear to play distinct roles in influencing travel. Research support: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Institute for Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiawen Yang & Steven French & James Holt & Xingyou Zhang, 2012. "Measuring the Structure of U.S. Metropolitan Areas, 1970–2000," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 78(2), pages 197-209.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rjpaxx:v:78:y:2012:i:2:p:197-209
    DOI: 10.1080/01944363.2012.677382
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiawen Yang & Peiling Zhou, 2020. "The obesity epidemic and the metropolitan-scale built environment: Examining the health effects of polycentric development," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(1), pages 39-55, January.
    2. Chen, Ruoyu & Zhang, Min & Zhou, Jiangping, 2023. "Jobs-housing relationships before and amid COVID-19: An excess-commuting approach," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    3. Kim, Hyungkyoo & Lee, NaYeon & Kim, Seung-Nam, 2018. "Suburbia in evolution: Exploring polycentricity and suburban typologies in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 92-101.
    4. Shao, Qifan & Zhang, Wenjia & Cao, Xinyu (Jason) & Yang, Jiawen, 2023. "Built environment interventions for emission mitigation: A machine learning analysis of travel-related CO2 in a developing city," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    5. Bindong Sun & Chun Yin, 2020. "Impacts of a multi-scale built environment and its corresponding moderating effects on commute duration in China," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(10), pages 2115-2130, August.

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