Downtown big box store cuts driving
A study recently argued in the Journal of Transport and Land Use that locating a big box store near downtown can reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) significantly in a particular community.
The Davis, California, study may be unusual in that all of the pre-existing big box stores were a long distance away from the city. Davis is a college town of 65,000, near Sacramento.
Big box stores around Davis, CA, prior to building the Target
The study looked at driving habits of Davis residents only -- ignoring possible increased car travel of people living outside of the community. The findings of a reduction in 18.9 miles per month per adult age 25 or older, totaling over 7.5 million miles of VMT per year, may overstate the case.
Assuming that overall car travel has been reduced by this in-town store, it would still be better if the store had an urban design that promotes walking and bicycling. The new Target, see photo, is conventionally designed and does not make any attempt to fit into the urban fabric.
Building in-town stores is a trend nationwide due to the slowing of suburban sprawl. Retailers that need to grow will be looking at places that already have a good supply of nearby residents, and that will often be infill locations. That these new stores will reduce driving in some cases is good news. The next step would be supporting a walkable environment.
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