[dirtsoc]

I think most of this stems from the fact that local governments are notoriously bad at improving infrastructure at the same speed as approving high density housing developments. They will agree to add hundreds of homes or apartments and just ignore the need for a better city or county public transportation system.

[hakfoo]

Why isn't it done as a pay-as-you-go deal with developers? Make the permit to break ground contingent on making arrangement to finance the road and utility build-outs?

Arizona has been surprisingly forward thinking about tnis in recent years (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/pdfs/value_capture/strategies_i...) but it doesn't seem to impede their suburban sprawl much.