Congestion

Carpool Lane

Secrets of Congestion-Busting Cities

Only nine regions experienced reduced traffic congestion between 1991 and 2011. What do they have in common?

December 11, 2014 - Michael Lewyn

Does Peak Car Mean the End of Induced Demand?

Aaron Renn provides a dissenting argument on the implications of peak car, namely, "if we’ve really reached peak car, maybe we really can build our way out of congestion after all."

December 6, 2014 - New Geography

The Impact of Metro Freight Trade on Congestion

Although the holidays cause millions more drivers to hit the road, delays in traffic may also stem from the congestion of goods movements by truck, both locally and across the country.

November 30, 2014 - The Brookings Institution

Phantom Traffic Jams Explained

Joseph Stromberg explains the phantom traffic jam—that scourge of highway travel when everyone on the highway slows down for no apparent reason and then quickly accelerates to previous speeds.

November 25, 2014 - Vox

Bumblebee Bike

The New Wonder Drug? Cycling, Some Advocates Say

Cycling has positive impacts both for cyclists and non-cyclists alike, helping to reduce pollution and congestion and improving health and economic factors with just two wheels.

October 28, 2014 - Urbanful

Portland's Planning Challenge: Better Jobs-Housing Balance

The Oregonian editorial board writes an op-ed that sums up Portland's many perks as well as the challenges. At the heart of the op-ed's concerns: how to bring jobs closer to where people live (and vice versa).

October 25, 2014 - The Oregonian

Delay Sign

How Not To Measure Traffic Congestion—Hold the Hyperbole, Please!

The new INRIX congestion costing report is another good example of bad analysis. We just want accurate information; hold the hyperbole, please.

October 14, 2014 - Todd Litman

Chicago Metra and Highway

Transit, Density, and Congestion

The most transit-oriented metro areas often have lower levels of traffic congestion than one might expect based on their size.

July 8, 2014 - Michael Lewyn

Buffalo, New York

Does Low Congestion Mean Urban Failure?

The least congested cities tend to be small, declining, and dangerous.

June 22, 2014 - Michael Lewyn

Advocating for Extension of Transportation Sales Tax in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Councilmember Mike Bonin talks mobility on the Westside and the region. With another transportation sales tax extension in the works, Bonin sees a sunny future for LA, but no easy fix to end congestion.

March 30, 2014 - The Planning Report

San Francisco Density

San Francisco's Running Out of Room for Cars

In terms of land area, San Francisco’s a small city. Yet if current policies persist, the city will build 92,000 parking spots for residents by 2040, on just 49 square miles of land.

February 17, 2014 - SF Streetsblog

Chinese Cities Consider Congestion Pricing

Air pollution and traffic are choking China's largest cities: a recent conference reveals that officials are looking to solve these twin transportation problems with economics.

December 28, 2013 - StreetsBlog NYC

Congestion Driving Canadians Back to Cities, Says New Report

A new report by multinational professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) calls the suburban-to-urban movement of Canadian residents and businesses one of the most significant current real estate trends.

November 21, 2013 - The Huffington Post

Explaining Traffic Waves - the Likely Cause for Your Congested Commute

For many drivers, the only experience more aggravating than being stuck in traffic is not being able to figure out why there's a jam in the first place. An explanation of the phenomenon called "Traffic Waves" may help ease the aggravation.

November 15, 2013 - KQED: The Lowdown

And the Award for Worst Traffic Goes to…

Vancouver, Canada, has the worst traffic of any North American city according to the latest TomTom Traffic Index rankings. Los Angeles takes second place.

November 8, 2013 - The Huffington Post

The Irony of Ring Roads

One way to address traffic congestion is to provide a bypass for vehicles around city traffic machinations. Ring roads, by definition, are meant to perform that function. In reality, they ignore the supply and demand model of traffic management.

November 7, 2013 - Steven Snell

Seattle skyline

Seattle's Low-Cost, High-Efficiency Street Parking Program

For an effective, low-cost alternative to San Francisco’s bank-breaking street parking program, look no further than Seattle.

October 26, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Is Traffic Congestion Good or Bad?

No one likes to be stuck in traffic. But while empty streets may look great from behind the wheel of a car, they could signal a city in distress. A new study identifies the tipping point at which congestion becomes a drag on a city's economy.

October 22, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Opponents Question Plan to Replace Sydney CBD Parking With Cycle Lanes

Debates rages on in response to the City Centre Access Strategy as it's revealed that the CBD could loose around 20% of its parking places and loading zones on two key streets to make way for the expanded cycle path scheme.

October 9, 2013 - Sydney Morning Herald

Improving Mobility Requires a Multimodal Consideration of Congestion

As urban populations increase and drivers seek to escape crowded commutes, America's urban transit systems are becoming increasingly congested. For TDM professionals to improve mobility for all, they must first change how they conceive of congestion.

September 16, 2013 - Greater Greater Washington

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.

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