WAMU 88.5 : News

Filed Under:

D.C. Looks More Affordable In Light Of Commuting Costs

By: Patrick Madden // August 4, 2011
Play associated audio
comments
D.C.'s Office of Planning found that if people factor in the high cost of commuting to the city from the suburbs, living in the District close to public transportation actually becomes more affordable.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/quasproduction/5540010375
D.C.'s Office of Planning found that if people factor in the high cost of commuting to the city from the suburbs, living in the District close to public transportation actually becomes more affordable.

Despite higher housing costs, it may be actually be cheaper to live in the District and other urban centers, according to a D.C. government report released Aug. 3.

The study PDF, commissioned by D.C.'s Office of Planning, finds when transportation costs are factored in -- gas prices, tolls and the costs of maintaining one or more vehicles -- living in the city or near a public transit station can be more affordable than the outlying areas where land is much cheaper.

"You probably have heard the expression 'drive to qualify' -- that's what a lot of households have done in our region looking for affordable housing," says Office of Planning director Harriet Tregoning. "What people are not so aware of is that transportation costs vary extremely in our region."

The report notes some families in the outlying areas can end up spending more of their household income on transportation than on housing. Conversely, in the District, transportation costs can be extremely low if work, shopping, and public transit stations are nearby.

Related Links

Arts & Culture

NPR

'Lunch Lady' Author Helps Students Draw Their Own Heroes

Can you imagine your own superhero? That's the question author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka posed to kids on a recent afternoon at a school in Washington, D.C. Krosoczka also described how he overcame a difficult childhood to become the author of the beloved Lunch Lady series.

Food

NPR

Inside A Tart Cherry Revival: 'Somebody Needs To Do This!'

The revival is partly based on the humble sour fruit's growing reputation as a superfood. And in Michigan, a scientist is on a quest to introduce a whole new world of hardier, tastier tart cherries by breeding American trees with ancestral varieties from Eastern Europe.

Politics

NPR

Srinivasan's Confirmation First For D.C. Circuit In 7 Years

The partisan war over judicial nominees has accelerated in recent years. It took nearly a year to win Senate confirmation for Sri Srinivasan to the important federal appeals court for the District of Columbia, though he had no formal opposition.

Technology

NPR

3-D Printer Makes Life-Saving Splint For Baby Boy's Airway

A 3-D printer is being credited with helping to save an Ohio baby's life, after doctors "printed" a tube to support a weak airway that caused him to stop breathing. The innovative procedure has allowed Kaiba Gionfriddo, of Youngstown, Ohio, to stay off a ventilator for more than a year.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.