Yes, gas prices are both lowest and highest. When compared to past Memorial Day weekends, it's the lowest since 2005, and by no coincidence the highest amount of travelers will take to the roads since the same year. Guess what that is doing to VMT?
"Gas prices are at their highest point for the year as we approach the Memorial Day holiday, and the national average has increased for 12 days in a row," according to AAA on May 23.
Today’s average of $2.28 per gallon is up six cents per gallon on the week and 15 cents per gallon on the month. Despite this increase, drivers remain on target to pay the lowest prices for the Memorial Day holiday since 2005.
Prices rose another four cents through Sunday, the day before Memorial Day. See today's national average price here.
Planetizen noted that last year "that gas prices for this holiday weekend were the lowest in six years—since 2009."
Motorists are taking advantage of the low gas prices, as well as being deterred by unusually long lines at security check-ins at airports throughout the country.
AAA projects more than 38 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend, which is an increase of 700,000 compared to a year ago. That is the second-highest Memorial Day travel volume on record and the most since 2005. Nearly 34 million (89 percent) holiday travelers will drive to their Memorial Day destinations, an increase of 2.1 percent over last year.
What this increase means for vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
Last year we pegged the AAA Memorial Day holiday travel projection with a May 20, 2015 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) press release indicating that "Americans drove 261.7 billion vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) in March of this year, which is the most ever driven in March."
According to the May 27, 2016 FHWA press release, March VMT increased to 273.4 billion miles, an increase of 11.7 billion miles or 4.5 percent; once again, shattering all records. Both press releases show a corresponding increase when comparing seasonally-adjusted vehicle miles traveled.
All data can be found in FHWA's Traffic Volume Trends, "a monthly report based on hourly traffic count data reported by the States."
Whatever happened to the good old days of "peak car"?
Hat tip to AASHTO Journal Weekly Newsmagazine
FULL STORY: Gas Prices Hit 2016 Highs Heading Into Memorial Day
Record Memorial Day Travel Due to Low Gas Prices, Improved Economy
In addition to record travel this Memorial Day, the U.S. DOT reports that March broke the record for the most vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Gas prices, though rising since late March, are predicted to drop and remain low through the end of 2015.
2016 Sets New U.S. Driving Record as Gas Prices Remain Low
So much for the 2015 record of 3.148 trillion miles. Last year saw a cumulative travel increase of 2.8 percent to 3.218 trillion miles, setting a new record as cheap gas contributed to increased driving.
Vehicle Miles Traveled Hits Record; Fuel Efficiency Decreasing Too
New figures from the Federal Highway Administration show no abatement in increasing vehicle miles traveled (VMT). While low oil prices have been beneficial for the environment on the production end, it is wreaking havoc on the consumption side.
Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns
Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.
The Unceremonious Death of a Freeway Expansion Project
The end of an Oregon freeway project didn't get much fanfare, but the victory is worth celebrating.
Houston Lot Size Reforms Yield Positive Results
New research shows that reducing lot size requirements helped create thousands of new homes.
Architecture and the Housing Crisis
A new book brings architects into the housing discussion.
New Los Angeles Rent Relief Program Targets Pandemic Debt
The program prioritizes the lowest-income tenants who accrued debt during the early part of the pandemic.
‘Agrihood:’ An Urban Farm With Affordable Housing
California’s largest urban farm also provides 165 units of affordable housing for seniors and veterans.
Knoxville-Knox County Planning
City of Stonecrest
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Culver City
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.
