For more information, contact Robert Krueger at 202-624-7051; [email protected]

WASHINGTON (March 5, 2013) – Strategies for bridging the gap between sprawled streetscapes and the growing market demand for pedestrian-oriented urban environments in the United States are highlighted in Pedestrian- and Transit-Oriented Design, a new publication from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the American Planning Association (APA).

This new how-to manual is co-authored by renowned urban planning expert and University of Utah research professor, Reid Ewing, and Keith Bartholomew, professor and associate dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Utah. The book operationalizes nearly a half-century of urban design theory in ways that provide practical meaning and use to urban planners, planning commissioners, city council members, developers and citizens who desire more livable environments.

According to Pedestrian- and Transit-Oriented Design, housing and consumer surveys show that the market demand for walkable, transit-oriented development continues to grow. If this demand is to be adequately met, the street-level discipline of urban planning must carefully intersect with the more vertically-focused field of urban design. The book points to successful developments as well as tools that are already being used by researchers, local governments, and community groups to measure urban design qualities that are ideal for consumers.

“Americans want to walk for reasons of health and recreation,” said Ewing. “And we want them to walk–to reduce oil dependence, air pollution and carbon emissions. Pedestrian and Transit Oriented Design brings together almost 20 years of research on what it takes to create great cities and suburbs where Americans will walk.”

Written in a clear, easy-to-read style, the book includes numerous photos, high-quality illustrations, and examples of code language that planners can reuse. It is divided into four parts: a literature review of empirical urban design research in travel behavior, visual preference, real estate economics, and traffic safety; an outline of urban design qualities that are important to pedestrian- and transit-oriented design; checklists of design features that could be incorporated into all transit-served areas; and a collection of recent examples of local policies and codes that help alleviate the problems faced by pedestrians and transit users.

Ewing and Bartholomew were co-authors with three others on the 2008 ULI book Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change. The Pedestrian- and Transit-Oriented Design preface is authored by Janette Sadik-Khan of the New York City Department of Transportation.

Pedestrian- and Transit-Oriented Design (ISBN 9780874202014) is available through ULI’s online bookstore for $59.95. Appendixes will be posted online at http://www.lib.utah.edu/pedtransit.

NOTE TO EDITORS AND REPORTERS: To obtain a complimentary copy of Pedestrian- and Transit-Oriented Design and request an interview with the authors, contact Robert Krueger at 202-624-7051; [email protected].

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About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute (uli.org) is a global nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in sustaining and creating thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has nearly 30,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.