Road Networks & Modern Suburbs

A highway through your city?!?! The Dutch approach to functional classification and suburbs.

Reading 1

Modern Suburb & Functional Classification

1:30-5:00

Houten is a commuter suburb 4 miles south of Utrecht with about 50,000 residents. It was first designated by the office of Wissing-Derks as a 'Groeikern' – a centre of growth – to meet the needs of the growing city of Utrecht. Construction began in 1979 and much growth occurred in the 1980s and 1990s.

Note the land use of Houten. It is not mixed use throughout, it is mostly residential. There are specific concentrations of mixed use development. Much of Houten is also lower density (i.e., there are yards and green space).

Note the roads within Houten. Although 50,000 people live here, there are no roads wider than 14 feet throughout the entire municipality. The ring road on the outside is 2 lanes in each direction. The highway is does not run through Houten but is 1/4 mile away at the closest.

Compare this to the road network layout in ABQ where I25 & I40 run right through the middle of the metro area. How does this relate to our land use patterns and suburban sprawl?