Opinion: LOS has ‘No Redeeming Quality’

Writing in Fast Company, Andy Boenau argues that the Level of Service (LOS) standard used by transportation agencies, which privileges vehicular throughput above all else, is one of the most destructive tools in U.S. transportation planning.

As Boenau explains, LOS is “entirely about how long a vehicle waits at an intersection or slows down during rush hour. The built environment is shaped around that metric.” Taxpayers are then forced to pay for projects that improve traffic speed without regard to safety or other considerations.

With infrastructure designed for high-volume, high-speed, low-delay motor vehicles, anyone wanting to walk or ride a bike is put into a lethal game of Frogger. When a city does create bus and bicycle infrastructure to shift trips from vehicles to other modes, the traffic report cards don’t reflect the fact that people have options.

For Boenau, “There’s no redeeming quality to LOS;” planners and engineers should instead shift their thinking to prioritize safety and mobility for all road users, not just those in cars.