Making Way: A Series of Case Studies on Suburban Active Transportation Plan Production and Institutionalization

TSuburban form produces car dependency with its circuitous routes, segregated land uses, and sprawling development. Active Transportation (AT), defined as non-motorized travel modes such as walking and cycling, has the potential to provide suburban residents with alternative mobility options. In 2021, Spring Hill, Tennessee, a city with suburban form and no dense urban core, adopted a “Bicycle and Greenway Plan” to develop an AT network.

This thesis seeks to understand how AT network plans are institutionalized, maintained, and expanded through policy and other implementation tools. The methodology includes four case studies: Spring Hill, Tennessee; Jefferson County, Alabama; Apex, North Carolina; and Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada. In each case, I analyze the goals/objectives, methodology, design, and implementation techniques of a local AT network plan. The analyses resulted in an understanding that greenway placement is usually opportunistic (i.e., a rail corridor or large park already exists), but once recreational facilities are placed, their presence may encourage new connections. Additionally, infrastructure, policy-making, and social programs must go hand in hand for a successful network. The findings of my initial investigation provide a basis for future research on suburban active transportation networks, particularly in identifying how newly developed plans can prioritize facilities separate from cars such as greenways.

Elaine Wang

Thesis Advisors: Andres Sevtsuk, Brent D. Ryan