While many people have built their homes further and further away from their jobs based on the belief gas would always be cheap, the question now is what should one do now? The answer for some may be a move back into the city.
North Texas has become a national model for communities where one can live, work and play. But one thing people aren't doing who live in the city is driving long distances.
For some who live at Mockingbird Station in Dallas, their mode of transportation is the DART train, which they never have to fill up.
"The train station is just right here, and a lot of folks take that train to work," said Edwin Holt, a Mockingbird Station resident.
Mockingbird Station is a frequent destination for dignitaries from around the country and the world. They come to see what happens when people park their cars and live closer to their jobs.
It's something Holt said he takes very seriously.
"My commute to work is less than 60 seconds," he said.
Holt lives and works at Mockingbird Station. He's one of 200-plus residents shielded from the rising cost of transportation. So, what does that do for the quality of life?
"I think it simplifies it," said Jack Wierzenski, DART's economic development director.
While there are no statistics on how many people are fleeing high gas prices and moving into new urban developments, Wierzenski said he believes it will be a long-term trend.
"I think we've just hit the tip of the iceberg so far in what we're going to see around the station areas," he said.
Areas around DART stations have become hot properties. Before they were built, the areas around them were usually old and blighted. But now, they're multi-level developments where people live, work and rarely need to use their car.
Plano is developing 1,000 housing units around its downtown DART station. Scott Schaefer, a developer, is about to complete 100 of those units.
"It's a lifestyle move for people," he said. "They're getting all the house they would typically want. They're just getting closer in more conveniently and it's walk-able."
As DART expands its rail operations, developers are lining up to build new, urban communities in established North Texas cities. They believe people will come, and the cities will benefit. In Plano, for example, the building boom along the rail lines provide a significant boost to the city's tax base.
"We've seen property values increase by $170 million," said Frank Turner, Assistant City Manager.
A number that's certain to grow as economic forces begin to challenge both where and the way people live.
