What is sprawl?
How has it affected the Lehigh
Valley and its major cities?
How does it affect your pocketbook
and transportation choices?
How a proposed highway widening
in the Lehigh Valley will cause more harm then
good!
To find out the answers to these
questions and more, click here
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These satellite pictures are of the metro area
of Atlantaís landscape, from 1973 to 1997 showing the effects
of sprawl.
Is this the fate of the Lehigh Valley?
Signs that point to yes:
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The three main cities of the Lehigh Valley (Allentown,
Bethlehem, and Easton) have collectively lost population since
1950, while the rest of the Lehigh Valley has grown by over 110%.
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From 1964 to 1998, on average, one agricultural/vacant
acre was lost every four hours. Most was converted for residential
use in the rural and suburban townships.Ý
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From 1980 to 1990, new houses in the Lehigh Valley
have grown at a larger percent rate then population.Ý In fact,
on average, over six houses were built per day during this time
period, in what was mostly agricultural/vacant land.
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2/3 of the prime agricultural land in the Lehigh
Valley has already been consumed for commercial, industrial, and
residential interests.
(Data sources for presentation:
U.S. Census and JPC)
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