A new study by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation projects mobility patterns of 2045. With projected growth of 70 million people, the pressure is on to invest in infrastructure and bring transportation planning into the 21st century.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx painted a grim picture of potential nationwide gridlock 30 years from now if the nation does not change its approach to transportation planning and transportation funding. He presented a new DOT study, titled "Beyond Traffic," that tries to project how an added 70 million Americans will impact mobility patterns, admit projected changes in urban living patterns, technology, and lifestyles. The study assumes that, despite the growth in urban populations, the country will still remain largely suburban and will, therefore, require investment in roads and other types of infrastructure that serves private autos.
Other notable projections include the following:
- Cities will grow larger but become less dense overall
- Government regulation will have to adapt to accommodate, and promote, the use of new technologies
- The rate of growth in average vehicle miles traveled will not reverse, but it will slow down
- Roads must be upgraded to accommodate multiple modes of transportation
“'The potential is there to make a transportation system as amazing, frankly, as the stark scenario above is troubling — a system that is safer, more efficient, more sustainable, and more satisfying — one that successfully connects all Americans to the 21st century economy,'” the report says.
FULL STORY: Transportation Department report gives the outlook for the next 30 years
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