"Icono Clast" wrote in message
news:1118573990.bcf3c2ba5a241a4c247075add5ab0988@teranews...
>>> "Icono Clast" wrote:
>>>> Freeways don't relieve traffic; they cause traffic!
>
>> Jack May wrote:
>>> What is the mechanism for this effect.
>
> Frank F. Matthews wrote:
>> The increase of convenience from the freeway generates more demand
>> from growth toward and beyond the end of the expanded freeway. When
>> construction delays occur this demand can actually precede the
>> construction. But yes, in some sense freeways increase traffic.
>
> Thank you, Frank, for stating "my" case better than I would have.
It is a extremely well studied situation. His point is well know to be
absolutely false in the short term with strong results proving that freeways
not fill up with increased traffic from new traffic when they are opened.
In the longer term, some people will move further from work for multiple
reasons. Their travel time will likely be about the same because of less
congestion resulting from the new freeway.
The filling up of freeways is almost always the result of existing traffic
altering their route to take advantage of less congestion. That reduces
congestion on other roads and get traffic out of neighborhood streets. Net
result is less pollution, less fuel consumption, and less CO2.
The primary cause of more traffic is an increase in the number of people
working. The main solution to more traffic is throw people out of work.
Not exactly a good solution.
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