String of eye-popping stats on how truly counterproductive expanding freeways is, taken from strongtowns.org/journal/2020/3… @StrongTowns @nomorefreeways @sarahforpdx @enobacon @oregonmetro @chrisformetro @PBOTinfo @OregonDOT @SunrisePDX @tinaintheburbs @BrentToderian @JeffSpeckAICP 1/7
Between 1993 & 2017, total freeway lane-miles in the 100 largest U.S. metro areas increased by 42% (31% more than the population growth of 32%). So, free-flow on highways resulted, right, DOTs? Wrong: congestion skyrocketed by 144% (4.5X higher than the population growth).
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And yes: 42% is 31% higher than 32%. Errors with percentages, especially regarding #elections, are made constantly. OK, back to crushing the “building your way out of congestion” logic: #Nashville’s traffic delay increased by 329%, or ~5.5X the % increase in lane-miles added. 3/7
In Pensacola and #Omaha, freeway lane-miles were added at >3X the population growth rate. Yet, #traffic delay still increased by 233% & 231%, respectively. Expanding freeways is a losing proposition on EVERY level. #ClimateChange #transportation @ORHouseDems @ORDems @andersem 4/7
In #Boise, population grew by 117% and lane-miles grew by 141%... and congestion grew by **446%**. When will state elected officials EVER learn that expanding freeways is a TERRIBLE investment?!? @OregonHouseGOP @orsendemocrats @sightline @brent_bellamy @DarrenDavis10 5/7
If you’re still not convinced at how ridiculous it is to expand freeways in metro areas: Jackson, #Mississippi grew by just 9% while expanding its freeways by 63%. And delay increased by *317%*. #Buffalo’s population dropped by 12%; its delay increased by 175%. @erik_griswold 6/7
Depressing conclusion: EVERY time I explain induced demand to elected officials, they actually understand it for a few seconds. Then, the VERY next constituent they face complains about traffic, and I literally HEAR the elected official talk about the need to expand freeways. 7/7
For convenience, here's my thread, converted into a single Web page, thanks to the handy folks @TheReaderapp: threadreaderapp.com/thread/1236731…
