L.A.'s Mayor On Solving The City's Congestion

In this interview, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa talks about how to tackle the city's congestion and housing issues.

1 minute read

May 3, 2007, 12:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Los Angelinos now spend about four full days a year trapped in traffic, more time than residents of any other city. But Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is taking on gridlock, and his sometimes-reluctant constituents, in promoting an aggressive slate of transportation fixes."

U.S. News & World Report: "Is building more roads an option?"

Antonio Villaraigosa: "Given the density of the city, it's not viable to build more freeways. If building a freeway involves knocking down a neighborhood, it's not going to happen. It will be more cost effective to invest in public transportation. It's where we've got to go, it's where great cities around the world have gone, and we've just taken a little longer in realizing that."

Sunday, April 29, 2007 in U.S. News & World Report

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight