Transit-oriented developements require a lot of energy and expense up front. Is it worth it in the long-run?

There is a growing interest in pedestrian and transit-oriented Development as a way to reduce the cost of transportation and home energy use. Yet there is little knowledge of how much alternative travel modes and compact developments reduce environmental impacts and household costs. As US cities begin to rethink their growth, city planners need better tools to measure the environmental and economic effects of infrastructure redesign.