A Great Big Freeway — Thanks to Induced Demand

Traffic through the Sepulveda Pass is worse, thanks to a widening project. Photo: biofriendly.

Los Angeles is getting what it paid for when it widened 10 miles of its most infamous freeways — another lane of traffic.

The extra lane of the I-405 between the 10 and the 101 freeways that opened in May, 2014, to supposedly alleviate congestion actually ended up adding a minute of travel time for drivers of the 10-mile stretch — and new data shows congestion is even worse.

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Who'd have thought, adding more space for cars invites more cars! Perhaps we should STOP adding automotive infrastructure, and instead encourage other options.

 

I believe the article mentions it, but there are many more people utilizing the freeways in LA because the cost of housing is driving people to outlying areas. Instead of paying exorbitant rent/mortgage payments for a small townhouse, they would rather pay exorbitant rates for a large house.

 

Road construction on Valley View street on Alondra (new bridge) discouraged motorists to drive via single lane of traffic; it now became a fastest route for me when getting to the PYP in Santa Fe Springs :)