Induced Demand

Herndon, USA - October 7, 2020: Sully road 28 multiple lane highway in Northern Virginia with traffic cars and exit sign for Washington Dulles airport, Sterling and Leesburg

Report: Northern Virginia Transportation Plans Will Induce More Driving

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority’s plans to widen and expand the region’s highways will lead to a sharp increase in vehicle miles driven, a new study shows.

April 15, 2022 - Greater Greater Washington

Congestion

Planning and the Complicated Causes and Effects of Congestion

What do planners know about congestion, and what can they do about it? Explanations and solutions are less obvious than they seem (part one of a three-part series).

April 13, 2022 - James Brasuell

Miami Traffic Jam

When Will We Believe in Induced Demand?

The well-documented concept has yet to catch on in state departments of transportation, but acknowledging it could dramatically transform U.S. transportation policy.

March 3, 2022 - Governing

El Paso

Report Criticizes El Paso Interstate Expansion Plan

An independent review of TxDOT's proposed expansion of I-10 through downtown El Paso highlights several flaws and a price tag close to $800 million.

February 18, 2022 - CBS 4 El Paso

Freeway Interchange Construction

Infrastructure Funding Could Lead to Higher Carbon Emissions

Billions in federal infrastructure funding slated to go to states with few strings attached could fund roadway construction and widening projects that will raise greenhouse gas emissions and worsen climate change.

February 13, 2022 - The New York Times

Interstate 65 Louisville

Evidence for Tolls as a 'Surefire' Traffic Congestion Fix

Traffic on a Louisville freeway fell by half after a toll was implemented. Could this be the best way to reduce traffic congestion?

November 19, 2021 - City Observatory

Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas

Austin Leaders Denounce 20-Lane Freeway Project

TxDOT is pushing ahead with plans for a massive freeway expansion project through downtown Austin despite opposition from virtually all local leaders.

October 27, 2021 - Slate

Highway 520

New Tool Calculates Induced Demand Caused by Road Widening Projects

The calculator can help transportation advocates and agencies project how many additional miles and emissions a highway widening project would create.

October 22, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Racing Cars

Partisan Splits for Transportation Politics

Researchers found that while left-leaning respondents were more likely to favor transportation reform and sustainable modes, conservatives are not as far behind as we think.

October 11, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Atlanta Traffic

Why Don't State DOTs Believe in Induced Demand?

Despite evidence that widening roadways is only a temporary solution to congestion, a decades-long inertia leads states to continue pushing expansion projects against local opposition.

October 6, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

Aerial Texas Hill Country at sunset, with an aerial view of a highway interchange and Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas.

Austin Interstate Expansion Plan Draws Opposition

A proposal to widen I-35 has drawn criticism from community members who want to see the city shift away from car-centric development.

September 15, 2021 - Texas Signal

Road Construction

Proposed Colorado Rule Calls for Mitigating Climate Effects of Road Projects

State and local agencies would be tasked with evaluating and offsetting the carbon emissions caused by new transportation projects.

August 20, 2021 - Colorado Public Radio

Los Angeles Road

Road Design Still Privileges Cars

Author Jeff Speck discusses the progress made since he first wrote Walkable City–and how far we still have to go to build streets that are safe for all.

August 9, 2021 - Governing

Car Culture

If You Build It, Cars Will Come: the Common-Sense Logic of 'Induced Demand'

Highway expansion has been shown, time and again, to increase traffic and congestion. Cities are finally getting the message.

May 14, 2021 - Governing

Houston Freeway

Watch: How Induced Demand Explains the Vicious Cycle of Congestion

A new Vox video tackles the controversial and counterintuitive concept of induced demand.

February 24, 2021 - Vox

Disabled Parking

Parking Induces Driving, Study Says

New research published in the Urban Studies journal does the difficult work of connecting the dots between parking and driving.

January 31, 2021 - Sightline Institute

Self-Driving Cars

Ride-Hailing Industry Induces Car Ownership, Research Says

New research from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University finds that instead of setting people free from cars, more people are buying and using cars than ever before.

January 11, 2021 - Streetsblog USA

Bay Bridge Toll Traffic

Failing to Account for Induced Traffic, Even When the Public Demands It

Induced traffic occurs when new highway capacity speeds up traffic, allowing travelers to drive further, increasing sprawl. A review of major highway project plans finds that most fail to accurately account for induced travel effects.

July 5, 2020 - Transportation Research Record: The Journal of the Transportation Research Board

London Ride Hailing

Ride-Hailing Companies Greatly Increase Pollution, Study Says

The reality of ride hailing has fallen well short of the wishful thinking about reduced congestion and reduced pollution that defined the early days of Uber and Lyft.

February 26, 2020 - The Verge

Northern California Toll Lane

More Toll Lanes Coming to California Freeways

Solo drivers in the Golden State will have more options to escape traffic congestion on busy freeways – for a price, as transportation agencies increasing decide to convert existing carpool lanes to high-occupancy toll lanes and add new ones.

January 2, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

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