ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book begins with a round-up of plans for high-speed rail in the United States. It demonstrates the potential positive results of regional balanced transportation and environmental conservation in the seven-county Orlando region in Florida. The book examines the concerns highlighted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. It also describes how local smart-growth and urban design policies can operate within the larger multi-regional context, particularly in conserving the natural landscape, promoting walkability in special districts and residential neighborhoods, and transforming cities and regions into designed environments. Even with strong regional growth policies in place, most of the decisions about development will still be made by local governments, the guardians not just of planning policy but of effective urban design. Smart growth has emerged as the consensus term for alternatives to the system of urban development.
