Jul

28

Jarrett Walker on Transit and Traffic Congestion

Filed Under Uncategorized 

From the Human Transit blog here are some interesting ideas from Jarrett Walker.  If you’d like to hear more, Jarrett will be speaking at GGLO Thursday evening, July 29th,  from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.  If you’re still going strong, after Jarrett’s talk there will be a Streets for All Seattle kick off party at Nectar Lounge, 412 North 36th Street in Fremont from 7:00 pm to late.

Now and then, someone mentions that a particular transit project did not reduce traffic congestion, as though that was evidence of failure.  Years ago, politicians and transit agencies would sometimes say that a transit project would reduce congestion, though most are now smart enough not to make that claim.

To my knowledge, and correct me if I’m wrong, no transit project or service has ever been the clear direct cause of a substantial drop in traffic congestion.  So claiming that a project you favor will reduce congestion is unwise; the data just don’t support that claim.

To my knowledge, and again correct me if I’m wrong, there are exactly three ways for a city to reduce its traffic congestion measurably, quickly, and in a lasting way.  (Widening roads is not one of these ways, because its benefit to traffic congestion is temporary unless new development in the road’s catchment is completely and permanently banned.)  More…

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