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Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element Land Use/Transportation Analysis Both nationally and locally, land use patterns have a substantial influence on the characteristics of transportation systems. Overall, land use characteristics, such as development type, location, and density, affect trip length, mode choice, and transit demand. In terms of population density, Indian River County remains a relatively low-density community. With 347,000 acres in the county as a whole, the overall population density was approximately 0.37 persons per acre in 2005. Since virtually all residential and commercial development in Indian River County occurs inside the urban service area, most development can be characterized as "infill" in nature. This has resulted in an increase in density in the urban service area. As a result of the 2000 census, the census urbanized area itself was revised to include the rapidly growing cities of Sebastian and Fellsmere. Consequently, the census urbanized area density was 2.62 persons/acre in 2006. While higher than it has been in the past, a density of 2.62 persons per acre is substantially less than what researchers have identified as transit -supportive density. One of the more notable transit studies (Pushkarev and Zupan, Institute of Traffic Engineers 1982) indicates that population densities of approximately 8.8 persons per acre, or 4 dwelling units per acre, are the minimum needed to support regular fixed -route bus service at 1 -hour headways. Consistent with what would be expected given the results of that research, the highest transit ridership in Indian River County occurs in those areas of the county (eg Vero Beach/Central Beach and Gifford) with higher residential densities. Despite the fact that urban development has not spread beyond the urban service area and that density has increased countywide, the residential and commercial land use patterns in the county remain low density in nature, with little mixed-use development. With the overall low densities in the county and with developers' tendencies to build at even lower than allowed densities, the predominant transportation mode will continue to be the single occupant vehicle. Overall, the separation of uses and the low density development produce more and longer automobile trips. • Jobs/ Housing Balance The balance between jobs and housing in an area has a significant influence on that area's commuting patterns. Research indicates that the average trip in areas with a balanced jobs - housing relationship (meaning those areas that have a jobs/household ratio between 0.8 and 1.2) is 29% shorter than in other areas. In fact, these same studies indicate that the jobs -housing balance is a more significant contributor to reduced trip lengths than mixed land uses within a community. In Indian River County, none of the major geographic divisions of the county (including the north county/Sebastian area, the central county/Vero Beach area, and the south county area) can be considered to have a "balanced" jobs -to -housing ratio. In recent years, however, there has been a correction in the size of the imbalance in each area. Development trends explain the slight improvements. While there have been a large number of new residential developments in the north county area, employment and shopping opportunities have grown even faster. New Community Development Department Indian River County 113