U. of Toronto economist Matthew Turner discusses his study that shows that building more traffic lanes attracts more traffic. Likewise, providing more transit may lure motorists out of their cars, but those motorists are replaced.
Turner explains his two traffic equations to NPR's weekend All Things Considered host Guy Raz:
+1=+1
[If you increase the number of highways in a city by 1 percent, it causes driving to also increase by 1 percent.]
+1=0
[Increasing public transit by 1 percent has no effect on traffic.] However, it will have a positive impact on public transit.
"Ultimately, Turner's research has shown that the only way to deal with congestion is to follow the lead of cities like London, Singapore and Stockholm, which have adopted "congestion pricing" - tolls on people driving in the center city. Turner says Stockholm, specifically, has seen a 50 percent reduction in travel time at peak times because of tolls."
Turner's 4 July 2010 draft paper, "The Fundamental Law of Road Congestion: Evidence from US cities" is available from the NPR webpage.
Thanks to Eric Gilbertson
FULL STORY: More Roads May Pave The Way To More Traffic
Op-Ed: 'Public Mood' Has Turned Against Cars in Cities
A survey of recent planning decisions demonstrates that cities are no longer necessarily looking to more and bigger highways to solve their traffic problems.
Congestion Pricing: The Key to Better Transit?
Noah Kazis describes the explosive success of transit systems in London, Stockholm, and Singapore, and suggests that charging motorists for road use is the secret ingredient that keeps ridership high and public support strong.
Congestion Pricing: An Expat View
Writing from London in an Op-Ed for Seattle’s Crosscut, Chuck Wolfe argues for a contextual approach to a much-touted search for transportation equity.
How Would Project 2025 Affect America’s Transportation System?
Long story short, it would — and not in a good way.
First Model Homes Revealed in Disney-Built Community
Disney’s Cotino, in the Southern California desert, is the first of the company’s ‘Storybook Living’ developments.
Cincinnati Seeks to Repurpose Its Unused Subway Tunnel
City officials are looking for proposals to use Cincinnati's long-abandoned subway tunnels, but not for transit; they already tried that.
President Sets New Deadline for Replacing Lead Pipes
U.S. cities are charged with replacing dangerous lead pipes and improving drinking water quality within the next 13 years.
400-Year-Old Oak Tree Designated as Historic Landmark
The tree’s landmark status celebrates its deep-rooted history and symbolizes the community's dedication to preserving local ecological treasures.
Arizona Native Community Launches First Solar-Over-Canal Project
Covering an irrigation canal with solar panels doubles its utility, producing renewable energy while protecting canal infrastructure and reducing water evaporation.
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.
BluePoint Planning
Economic & Planning Systems
Village of Glen Ellyn
Washington University
World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
City of Portland, ME
Baton Rouge Area Foundation