Benefits of Compact, Mixed Use Development

This literature review from the Department of Energy found that urban form can reduce vehicle-miles traveled and energy use. The four features of urban form that have the greatest impact are job and/or population density, a mix of land uses (diversity and proportion), the degree to which an area enables different modes of transport, and destination accessibility. The review included 64 academic, government, and think tank articles that looked at many different variables and impacts. Annotated citations of resources reviewed are organized by the following categories:

• Measuring Urban Form
• Travel, Energy, and GHG Impacts
• International Studies;
• Other Social, Economic, and Environmental Outcomes
• Factors That Influence Urban Form.