Transportation For America » Congestion Report Highights Urgent Need for Reform

Congestion Report Highights Urgent Need for Reform

July 8, 2009
By Transportation for America

New Urban Mobility Report finds congestion costs up to $87.2 billion, more than $750 per person in 2007

Contact:
Ben Grossman-Cohen
202-478-6185, 917-282-8546
bgrossman-cohen@mrss.com

Paula Chrin
202-478-6138, 202-631-9198
pchrin@mrss.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. — James Corless, Director of Transportation for America, released the following statement in response to the Texas Transportation Institute’s 2008 Urban Mobility Report which shows American travelers have lost over three weeks of gas per person due to congestion:

“The best way to reduce congestion and help Americans save money, time and fuel is to get smarter about managing traffic and offer increased options such as public transportation, telecommuting and incentives for carpooling, bicycling and walking. There is ample evidence that shows that reducing peak hour traffic by just a small percentage will dramatically reduce congestion and all of the costs associated with traffic. A recent report showed that just a 3.7% reduction in vehicle miles traveled in 2008 resulted in a 30% drop in congestion in the top 100 metro areas across the country. That is an average of 13 fewer hours stuck in traffic per commuter.”

“Already, leaders in Congress are coming together behind a new approach to our national transportation policy that will create clear targets and accountability measures to help cut down on congestion and address other pressing transportation challenges. The bipartisan transportation bill from Chairmen Oberstar and DeFazio, and Representatives Mica and Duncan would substantially increase the investment in public transit from current levels, make enormous strides to restore our existing highways, bridges and transit facilities to good condition, offer new incentives and latitude for local governments to cut commute times by linking housing and other national priorities to transportation plans, and promote more livable communities, all of which together will help reduce the amount of time we waste in traffic. Now is the time to see those critical reforms enacted.”