New data show that in 2008 traffic congestion in the nation's cities declined by 30 percent, the result not of new roads or transit, but of modest declines in VMT.
The decline in congestion -- which analysts have labeled 'startling" -- was almost universal. Traffic congestion actually declined in 99 of the nation's 100 largest metro areas, according to Inrix, which monitors traffic around the nation. The company's data come from tens of billions of reports from GPS-equipped vehicles traveling the nation's roads, the same data that provides real-time traffic information to commercial users and web-services like Mapquest, Garmin and On-Star.
Their key conclusions: 'peak hour congestion on the major roads in urban America decreased nearly 30 percent in 2008 versus 2007,' and nationally, 'congestion was lower every hour of every day in 2008 versus 2007 – between 15 percent and 60 percent lower depending on the hour and day.' See the full report here.
How did such a small decline in travel produce such a big drop in congestion?"
FULL STORY: The Tipping Point

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

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

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process
The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

Interactive Map Reveals America's “Shade Deserts”
Launched by UCLA and American Forests to combat heat-related deaths, the tool maps the shade infrastructure for over 360 U.S. cities.

Bicycles and Books — In Sacramento, Libraries Now Offer Both
Adult library card holders can check out e-bikes and e-trikes for up to one week.

Colorado Landfills Emit as Much Pollution as 1M Cars
Landfills are the third-largest source of methane pollution in Colorado, after agriculture and fossil fuel extraction.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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