NOW’s David Brancaccio introduces us to homeowners in Riverside, California, who face a daily 144-mile round-trip commute to their jobs in San Diego. Since gas prices have skyrocketed many Riverside residents find themselves making unexpected economic choices: do they pay for the gas to drive to work or do they

pay the monthly mortgage on their homes? Across the country, Brancaccio reports, exurban neighborhoods are suffering exceedingly high foreclosure rates. Brancaccio talks to local transportation experts about commuting solutions, many of whom applaud California’s new landmark legislation to control sprawl. Will California’s “Smart Growth” initiatives provide a model for the rest of the country? Who will pay for these programs and what do the presidential candidates have to say about federal involvement in transit infrastructure?

Back in the remote outer-suburbs, Brancaccio talks to the families struggling with expensive and arduous commutes. If busses and trains were available, would they take advantage? Their answers will surprise you.

At the edge of the city is the suburb. At the edge of the suburb, as metropolitan areas have expanded out, is the exurb. Located on the urban fringe, an exurb has at least 20 percent of its workers commuting to jobs in urbanized areas, low housing density and, at the same time, relatively high population growth.

Some notable exurbs around the country:

- Elk Grove, California

- North Las Vegas, Nevada

- Port St. Lucie, Florida

- Gilbert, Arizona

- Cape Coral, Florida

- Moreno Valley, California

- Rancho Cucamonga, California

- Miramar, Florida

- Chandler, Arizona

- Irvine, California

For resources on exurbia, click here.

What is New Urbanism?

New Urbanism is a city-planning movement that began in the 1980’s to emphasize more old-fashioned community building over suburban sprawl. A development built along New Urbanist principles is walkable with a higher population density, has a mix of businesses and public space, and all housing units in close proximity.

New Urbanism sees a great deal of overlap with Transit Oriented Developments (TODs), but TODs focus more explicitly on putting mass transit stops for subway, bus, or light rail within walking distance of major developments.

Supporters claim that such developments, created by New Urbanist planning or TODs, foster a closer-knit community, provide easier access to necessities, and are more ecologically sustainable. But detractors point out that not everybody is looking for a more urban lifestyle with smaller backyards and living spaces, busier communities, or neighborhoods that are intentionally unaccommodating to cars.

Examples of New Urbanist communities around the country:

- Meridian Mission, California

- City of Villages, California

- East Garrison, Claifornia

- Seaside, Florida

- Mashpee Commons, Massachusetts

- Magniolia, Georgia

- Southwood, Florida

- New Haven, Ohio

- West Village, Texas

- Seabrook, Washington

- Barboursville, West Virginia