The Key to Sustainability? Connectivity

DLBP is an advocate of sustainable development, whether the re-use of brownfield sites or new settlements and urban extensions, and good connectivity provided by sustainable travel is vital in achieving this.

In the US and UK, public transportation provides a multitude of benefits to settlements of all sizes, from villages to suburbs, and towns to cities.

The light rail system in Charlotte, North Carolina, provides an excellent example of best practices for public transportation in a non-vehicular based community.  There, the system reaches a myriad of retail, housing, and public spaces, with walking and cycling trails alongside the rail network.  Few cars are seen, or indeed needed, since the light rail system provides access to all necessary amenities. As well as reducing vehicular emissions, additional benefits include noise reduction, ease of mobility, and land use efficiency.

DLBP is constantly looking for innovative ways to improve connectivity within and between places, and takes inspiration from places like Charlotte in the work we do.