https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230738894_Peri-Urban_to_Urban_Landscape_Patterns_Elucidation_through_Spatial_Metrics

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229826816_Empirical_patterns_of_the_influence_of_Spatial_Resolution_of_Remote_Sensing_Data_on_Landscape_Metrics

Think of the ancient Silk Road. It connected many cities to each other. Some cities became more competitive as hubs of agriculture or industry; some became the centers for commercial activities and market.

The relationship is two-sides. Roads connect the existing cities, and new cities come to existence near the existing main roads. Each can make the other more significant and competitive.

Needless to say that a combination of geographical, social and economic situations are determinative in this regard.

increased demand for a city's major roadway make it more competitive?

By its very nature demand is elastic for addressed demand ask for new demand...

competitive cities not necessarily depend on the larger number of major road ways they have for competition as economic desire indicator deserves several aspects.

however, a city with a high way and grid patterns with in a city is more preferred by developers than a city with a single road way in which case city's pattern of development is towards roadside.

besides, a city with higher number of out lets to nearby and distant places have more comparative advantage to grow , develop and expand than those with only one outlet

-thus, the problem is not the number of major road ways demanded but the way it connects the inner and outer urban with the out let to the nearby cities with out creating traffic congestion.

The transportation system is the issue that needs to be addressed. There are three parts to the system: roads, information, and vehicles. Uber et al. address the information aspect. The automobile is not the right vehicle to make the roads + information system all that it can be. The right vehicle is one that can do all that Uber does but also do packages and light freight. The design for such a vehicle exists, waiting for the right entrepreneur.

Peterson Dayan I am not sure, if I understand your question. If you add demand to your main roadway this usually leads to more congestion. How is that meant to make a city more competitive? By designing the street network you can of course adjust how want to meet this increased demand: walking, cycling, public transport, cars...

as a life long New Jersey resident, we are a prime example of roadways connecting two major cities, NYC and Philly. There is only so much real estate to accommodate the roads and its drivers. NJ traffic is horrendous going into NY (and Philly) NJ traffic in general with ALL its wide arteries has not made NY more competitive. It makes others who work there wish they didn't and where possible, many use trains to get in and out with less hassle. NJ is extremely densely populated for the tiny state it is because of its location and highways. Thus, our cost of living is on par with states like CA. As a UX designer, I care not only about the profitability of a product (the city) but the people who make it profitable. (the drivers) The product needs to have something of value to make people want to come. Of course, if you are looking to make it more accessible, this would encourage people to come because they could do so easily. So it would see to me, a reversal of your question might be better for profitability - increase the access (wider or more roads in and out) rather than consolidating those access points to frustrate those who use them.

More lanes? Really? This false solution is still being considered?

The roads are more than adequate. IT is more than capable. The bottleneck is the absence of the right multi-passenger, multi-function vehicle.

Define the problem properly, and the solution suggests itself.

Carolyn Macaluso Well, finally what should count are the people. And if you look at the 10 most liveable cities ( https://mobilityexchange.mercer.com/Insights/quality-of-living-rankings) those are not the ones with the most lanes on their streets!

Well only if the vehicle become energy generators therby decrease load on transmission

Shubham Sharma's viewpoint seems to be blinkered to the idea that all transportation must use electricity that must come from some remote source of renewables, hence need for transmission. Hybrid electric propulsion can do anything that is needed. The liquid or gas fuel can be carbon neutral. The wrong solution follows from giving inadequate time to define what the problem actually is.

My view, traditional transportation roadway is a symbol of urbanization not economical growth/competition. For example, a can develop 200 service jobs with one software program.

John Wilkerson: I do not understand the idea of roadway as symbol particularly in the juxtaposed context of creating jobs with software. At the same time John Wilkerson notes in his brief bio work involving "sustainable supply chain…" This creates an eerie impression that efficient physical transportation is somehow only symbolic.

Symbols are important. Roadways and other physical transportation icons do symbolize the modern economy. Where these iconic artifacts of civilization function well, in all respects including sustainable economic activity, they are to be proud of.

Software is a recent addition to civilization. It remains to be seen because of trends to monopolistic practices how sustainable this aetherial new economy truly is, where authorship of a piece of software can create 200 service jobs just like that. If these 200 service jobs are incorporated into the SEIU, the symbolism of software affecting the economy would be more benign.

Infrastructure Planning is the key to the future. It should address a new paradigm for transportation. Urbanismo responds to this by engaging hierarchically with the human demands that then find a spatial response.

Pedestrian networks should prevail as primary public space together with squares where people meet.

It is all about rethinking how we, people, should live. It’s about scale.

Urbanism needs to be addressed holistically!

I rarely debate in public but I strongly disagree with future large scale mass urbanization. My primary argument, increased roads equals traditional business models (limited growth & increased pollution).

Again, my view the internet, emerging technologies and pro growth governments / international planning has the potential to create jobs and solve the citizen urbanization challenge (provide jobs & improved lifestyle).

I would like to repeat that the roads we have are all we need. The way to use them is not to fill them up, but to move ourselves and our stuff using them in an obvious rational way. IT is an essential factor, and its advanced state is important. Uber et al are only as far away from the solution as short term thinking and greed cause them to be. Government needs to reconsider its stultifying effects for bus transportation. Regulations and security for travelers and providers are essential, but government mandates that squelch improved operating systems is a serious problem.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308955102_Stimulus_of_developmental_projects_to_landscape_dynamics_in_Uttara_Kannada_Central_Western_Ghats

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313486918_Modelling_the_forest_transition_in_Central_Western_Ghats_India

Your question raised some questions in my mind, before I think about replying to your question! for an example: how practically we can add ''demand'' to roadways in real world? As far as I know, ''competitive city'' is a city with good industry infra to create enough wealth and job opportunity for inhabitants. Productivity of inhabitants plays an important role to make a city competitive. According to many studies, more demand on roadways would leads to traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, inactive life-styles, health and mental illnesses and ... These issues will reduce productivity and life quality.

A reliable transportation system which can sufficiently supports both public passenger and industry demand, can make a city more competitive.