The relationship between density and urban form suggests that higher density supports what?

• A. It reduces land use efficiency.
• B. It guarantees zero traffic congestion.
• C. It reduces access to services.
• D. It supports efficient land use and transit.

Answer: (D)

When density rises, urban form becomes more compact and mixed-use, bringing homes, workplaces, shops, and services into closer proximity. This closer arrangement makes land use more efficient—you can fit more people and activities into the same area with less land consumption and less spread-out infrastructure. At the same time, higher density supports transit viability: with more people living and working in a given corridor or neighborhood, transit services become more cost-effective and frequent, and walking or cycling distances shrink, making transit a convenient option. Together, these effects mean denser development tends to align with efficient land use and better transit outcomes.

The other statements don’t fit as well. Density doesn’t inherently reduce land-use efficiency; it enhances it by packing activity more tightly. It doesn’t guarantee zero traffic congestion—even dense areas can experience congestion if road capacity and transit options aren’t well managed. And higher density generally increases access to services, not reduces it, since services cluster more readily where people live and work.