United States Department of Transportation
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Remove It And They Will Disappear: New Evidence Why Building New Roads Isn't Always the Answer
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1999-01-01
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By Kruse, Jill
[PDF-258.19 KB]
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TRIS Online Accession Number:00778490
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NTL Classification:NTL-PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLES-Bicycles;NTL-PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLES-Pedestrians;NTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-Construction and Maintenance;NTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-Travel Demand;NTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-Land Use;NTL-OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLS-Congestion;NTL-OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLS-Traffic Flow;
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Abstract:While induced travel has countered the notion that cities can build themselves out of congestion, reduced travel has emerged to further challenge the way local officials think about road building.
Flying in the face of conventional wisdom, new evidence shows that closing roads can eliminate traffic. A British study, released in March, 1998, is creating a buzz in transportation circles. The study found that closing roads actually cuts driving trips. The research team, led by Phil Goodwin of University College London, one of the Blair Government's key transport advisors analyzed 60 cases worldwide where roads were closed, or their ability to carry traffic was reduced. On average, researchers found that 25 percent of the traffic vanished when a road was closed. And in some cases, the researchers found that an astonishing 60 percent of the driving trips disappeared. The Question is, will it convince stalwart road supporters to curb the road building ferver and plan cities that serve its citizens?
Evidence of reduced travel has surfaced in the U.S., but it has been met with
skepticism, or ignored entirely. The main lessons from these studies, however,
lend support to any city that desires a healthy transportation system.
Accommodating a major change in traffic patterns like a road closure, the study
shows, appears to be the system's flesibility. Commuters in the British study
had a variety of travel options to choose from, including public transit,
walking, or working from home. This adaptability allowed for a smooth
transition, demonstrating that a balanced approach to transportation planning
not only better serves its citizens, but allows for improved traffic
management.
Many local officials have found that decreasing road capacity and expanding
options for public transit, walking, and biking are rejuvenating their cities.
New evidence from the UK supports these decisions, creating fresh opportunities
for traffic management. By demonstrating that road closures can eliminate
traffic and boost the economy, reduced travel further debunks the notion that
building more roads will solve traffic problems. And as cities around the world
wrestle with rising traffic congestion, evidence of reduced travel helps show
that a balanced, equitable system is the most effective solution.
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