{"id":243,"date":"2012-03-29T19:33:32","date_gmt":"2012-03-29T19:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/daviddilworth.com\/env\/?p=243"},"modified":"2025-06-08T18:38:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T18:38:07","slug":"you-cant-pave-your-way-out-of-congestion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daviddilworth.com\/env\/you-cant-pave-your-way-out-of-congestion\/","title":{"rendered":"You Can’t Pave Your Way Out of Congestion !"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"LA<\/a>

LA-Traffic – Full Stop – Full Time 24\/7<\/strong> (image credit: KPCC)<\/p><\/div>\n

“Building more lanes to cure congestion<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

is like loosening your belt to cure obesity.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

1) There is now overwhelming evidence, including a nationwide study of 70 metropolitan areas over 15 years (Texas Transportation Institute<\/strong><\/a>), and another California specific study (Hansen 1995, which included Monterey County) that when an area is congested – additional lanes or roads do not provide congestion relief<\/span><\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2) It is also well documented that additional lanes increase traffic<\/strong>, and that new highways create demand for travel and expansion by their very existence.<\/p>\n

3) Further experience shows “When road capacity shrinks – So Can Traffic;” traffic congestion goes down !<\/strong><\/p>\n