People who live in more sprawling places drive more, face a greater risk of dying in a traffic crash, and breathe more polluted air than people in less sprawling areas, according to a new national study. The report, Measuring Sprawl and Its Impact, uses a sophisticated new sprawl measure crated by Rutgers and Cornell Universities.

The new index uses 22 variables and issues five sprawl "scores" for each metropolitan area that compare their level of sprawl to other metropolitan areas ranked, looking at residential density, the mix of homes and other land uses, the strength of town centers, and the accessibility of the street network, as well as an overall ranking. Six Florida metropolitan areas were included in the study.

Charles Pattison, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Florida, notes that this study provides valuable tools for those seeking to lessen the impacts of sprawl in their communities. "We have known for a long time that Florida's communities are sprawling. Thanks to this study, we now have quantifiable information on how they are sprawling, and the effects of this sprawl." He continues, "With more effective planning, including incorporating a greater mix of uses and town centers, we can start building better communities in Florida."

Florida's metropolitan areas ranged across the spectrum, from West Palm Beach/Boca Raton/Delray Beach which ranked as the sixth most sprawling of the 83 communities from across the nation that were studied, to Miami/Hialeah, which ranked 75th. While West Palm Beach was around average in terms of residential density and street network, it fared poorly in terms of land use mix and presence of town centers. Miami, on the other hand, was near average in terms of its mix, but scored better in terms of housing density, street network and centers. Other Florida metropolitan areas included in the study were Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater (ranked 22), Jacksonville (28), Orlando (40), and Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood/Pompano Beach (55).

The report also includes a brief case study on Ft. Lauderdale, noting that while it received a similar overall ranking to Tuscon, Arizona, there are significant differences in the ways the two communities sprawl. Tuscon scores above average on mix of neighborhood uses and focus on activity centers, while Ft. Lauderdale does much better than average on street accessibility and residential density.

Researchers are quick to point out that these results should not be interpreted that communities that receive higher rankings in this study, such as Miami, are not sprawling. They state in the report, "U.S. cities tend to be much more sprawling than metro areas in Europe, for example, and in an international ranking most U.S. metro areas would fall at the bottom of the scale."

The study also uses the index to correlate the degree of sprawl to impacts such as ozone pollution, traffic levels, and the use of transportation alternatives. Findings include data on the difference in the numbers of miles driven in sprawling and less sprawling areas, the difference in peak ozone days, and the difference in traffic fatalities in very sprawling and less sprawling areas.

For example, if these six Florida metropolitan areas (home to more than half of this state's population) build even more sprawl-style development and their cumulative total moves just 25 points down on the sprawl index, drivers can be expected to travel close to 19.5 million more miles each day, adding to air pollution and traffic jams. Even without population growth, these communities could expect 527 additional traffic deaths. In Miami alone, drivers would travel 4.4 more million miles in the region each day, consume 80 million more gallons of gasoline each year, and experience 119 additional traffic deaths a year.

The report also found that higher levels of sprawl had no independent impact on traffic delay or travel times, refuting the idea that sprawl helps ease congestion.

The sprawl scores are based on dozens of statistics from national databases and represent the first comprehensive, academically rigorous ranking of sprawl in the United States. The full report, as well as a technical research paper and metropolitan area fact sheets can be found at www.smartgrowthamerica.org.

Smart Growth America is a nationwide coalition promoting a better way to grow: one that protects farmland and open space, revitalizes neighborhoods, keeps housing affordable, and provides more transportation choices.

1000 Friends of Florida, a partner with Smart Growth America, is a statewide nonprofit organization that focuses on stopping sprawl, saving special places and building better communities across this rapidly-growing state. More information on 1000 Friends can be found at www.1000friendsofflorida.org.