GAO finds little federal role in suburban sprawl

A General Accounting Office study has found only "anecdotal evidence" pointing to a federal role in causing suburban sprawl.

The 11-month study, released Friday, did not find a consensus among researchers that federal spending on new highways, environmental regulations, housing polices and tax incentives cause sprawl. There are even some positive aspects to sprawl, the report said, such as increased home ownership and cheaper sites for business.

The report was "a letdown" for smart-growth advocates who believe federal polices are a major cause of sprawl. Kathryn Hohmann of the Sierra Club: "People really felt that this report was going to be a boost for a growing (anti-sprawl) movement across this country. ... We expected something emphatic." Hohmann says further research would show government does play a role.

The "fuzzy findings" of the report are not expected to dampen interest in sprawl, which has become one of the "most popular political agendas this year" (Haya El Nasser, USA Today,
Apr. 30).