A new study finds that Salt Lake City's TRAX light-rail system significantly reduces traffic on parallel roadways. It estimates that a LRT line reduces daily from 44,000 (if it did not exist) to 22,300 (what actually occurs) on one arterial.
A new study, Effect of Light-Rail Transit on Traffic in a Travel Corridor, by University of Utah researchers Reid Ewing, Guang Tian and Allison Spain investigated the effects that Salt Lake City's TRAX light-rail system has on vehicle traffic on parallel roadways. This rail system began operating in 2001 and expanded over the following decades with new lines and stations. It currently carries about 53,000 average daily passengers. The study found significant declines in roadway traffic after the LRT line was completed, despite significant development in the area. It estimates the LRT line reduced daily vehicle traffic on the study corridor about 50%, from 44,000 (if the line did not exist) to 22,300 (what actually occurs). The study evaluates the resulting reductions in traffic congestion, fuel consumption, air pollution and parking costs. It estimated that the on that one corridor the LRT saves almost 500,000 gallons of gasoline, prevents almost 10 million pounds of CO2 from being emitted each year, and saved the University of Utah $23.6 million in avoided parking construction costs.
FULL STORY: Effect of Light-Rail Transit on Traffic in a Travel Corridor
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
How California Transit Agencies are Addressing Rider Harassment
Safety and harassment are commonly cited reasons passengers, particularly women and girls, avoid public transit.
Significant Investments Needed to Protect LA County Residents From Climate Hazards
A new study estimates that LA County must invest billions of dollars before 2040 to protect residents from extreme heat, increasing precipitation, worsening wildfires, rising sea levels, and climate-induced public health threats.
Federal Rule Raises Cost for Oil and Gas Extraction on Public Lands
An update to federal regulations raises minimum bonding to limit orphaned wells and ensure cleanup costs are covered — but it still may not be enough to mitigate the damages caused by oil and gas drilling.
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