DM, this post and especially the last paragraph get at the real issue: Growth. You are right that politicians use congestion relief as a way to persuade people to go along with their plans. Politicians and planners also like to scare everyone by asking people to imagine what metro Atlanta will look like with 3 million more people in the next several decades. However, they never mention that they are putting the cart before the horse when talking in these terms. The truth is the “expected” growth will not occur if these transportation projects are not completed.

But I’m okay with that. I actually do not want 3 million more people to move to metro Atlanta. I moved here over 30 years ago and could honestly do without all the growth of the 90s and 00s. Metro Atlanta business leaders and boosters start the meme that we need more growth, more homes, more jobs, more shopping centers, more diversity, more this and more that. Those ideas seem to have passed through the water supply so that many metro Atlantans repeat them and honestly, but naively, believe that neverending growth is good and possible. So long as you play this zero-sum, rat-race game, you are right DM, you will create more congestion and exacerbate existing problems by encouraging millions more to move here.

I never drive on the exrpressway, but pay for them through a gas tax. I’d rather just be tolled and save money at the pump.

Dense towns were more for communal defense than wanting to live shoulder-to-shoulder with one’s neighbor. Protecting one’s life with expensive walls and militia took precedence over expansive rooms in one’s home. Transportation, as you point out, was also key. Few people could afford a horse, so they had to haul everything by hand (cart) or pay someone with a cart to deliver it. Furthermore, construction techniques and difficulty in heating them made it more difficult to build larger homes. Insulation was poor and Wood/coal was not cheap. Building materials were also more expensive. Last, but certainly not least, there wasn’t a lot to *do* at home besides eat and sleep. Sure, the wealthy could read and play/listen to music, but there weren’t any home theater systems, computers, gaming tables, home workshops, etc.,. in people’s homes back then. So, people literally didn’t have enough self-entertainment items to fill their homes with.

Yet, the *desire* to have a larger residence within one’s means has always existed.

I work OTP way up in John’s Creek and have had countless conversations with my co-workers about how much time they spend in their cars any given week, spend on fuel, the proximity of restaurants and cultural events, etc.,. and while some of them logically understand the “quality of life” side of things, they just can’t seem to shake the notion that they must have a huge-ass house.

ITP – “If you shortened the commute time for everyone in your family, you could spend more time doing the things you enjoy”
OTP – “But, how would I fit all of my shit into such a small house ?”
ITP – “How much of your shit do you actually use ?”
OTP – “It doesn’t matter. I like having it”
ITP – *sigh*
OTP – “Besides, I heard city school systems suck, and we can’t afford private schools”
ITP – “For the most part, yes, but there are some excellent in-town public schools”
OTP – “Well, if you say so” *disbelieving look*
ITP – *sigh*
ITP – “What about having easy access to a wide variety of restaurants, cultural events, exposing your children to different cultures, etc.,.”
OTP – “Oh, you mean The Braves, The Varsity, The Fox, and The Aquarium ? That’s all we ever like going downtown for once or twice a year.”
ITP – *sigh*

That’s paraphrased, but sums it up pretty well. Can lead a horse to water, but…