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I think the biggest issue is suburbs within commuter range of urban centers. The residents of the suburbs pay local taxes to the suburb for their local infrastr
by stetrain 3y ago
I think the biggest issue is suburbs within commuter range of urban centers. The residents of the suburbs pay local taxes to the suburb for their local infrastructure.
In the morning, a decent chunk of them get in their cars and drive into the city. The roads that need constant expansion, upgrades, and repair are the ones in the city or between the city and the suburb.
The suburb residents vote against things that might cost them money but reduce the burden on roads not paid for by the suburbs.
Yes, commuting has dropped, but it’s not gone. The major highways between my suburb and the nearby city are still constantly clogged and forever under construction.
- lotsoweiners 3y agoBlame the companies, government agencies, and anyone else mandating RTO and other outmoded forms of work. Plenty of companies are fleeing downtown for office parks in the suburbs as their lease expires. We will see how sustainable some of these downtown businesses (restaurants, coffee shops, bars, stores) are once the money from suburban commuters dries up.
- stetrain 3y agoIn my experience "suburb" towns that have variety of density, including a dense town core, have more variety of healthy local stores and restaurants as well. It's hard to run a local restaurant when the houses are all evenly spread out and going out to dinner means a 30 minute car drive. Thus the proliferation of chain franchises in these areas.
- jjav 3y ago> It's hard to run a local restaurant when the houses are all evenly spread out and going out to dinner means a 30 minute car drive. Can you point me at a few suburbs (not out in the wilderness) where it actually takes a 30 minute car drive to get to a restaurant? I have difficulty picturing that such a place exists, but maybe I'm wrong.