Can density decrease traffic congestion?

Propose a building over three stories and what's the typical response? "Oh, the traffic!" Plantizen blogger Todd Litman points to an Arizona study that shows greater density can actually reduce traffic congestion. Excerpt: "There is plenty of evidence that land use factors such as density, mix and road connectivity affect the amount people travel. However, the study made an important additional discovery. It found that roadways in more compact, mixed, multi-modal communities tend to be less congested. This results from the lower vehicle trip generation, particularly for local errands, more walking and public transit travel, and because the more connected street networks offer more route options so traffic is less concentrated on a few urban arterials. This contradicts our earlier assumptions." Read the rest of the story here.