Traffic Congestion Dipping as Economy Falters

[steven johnson]

Well, here's some benefit to the rise in fuel prices.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 8, 2009
Filed at 6:56 a.m. ET

More Politics NewsWASHINGTON (AP) -- Drivers are spending less time stuck in rush-hour traffic for a second straight year, the first-ever two-year decline in congestion as high gas prices and the economic downturn force many Americans to change how they commute.

In individual cities, Los Angeles traffic is getting better but is still the worst in the nation. Washington's is getting worse, now ranking second.

The average U.S. driver languished in rush-hour traffic for 36.1 hours in 2007, down from 36.6 hours in 2006 and a peak of 37.4 hours in 2005, according to a study being released Wednesday by the Texas Transportation Institute. Total wasted fuel also edged lower for the first time, from 2.85 billion gallons in 2006 to 2.81 billion, or roughly three weeks' worth of gas per traveler.

The Texas Transportation Institute analyzed state and Federal Highway Administration data for 439 urban areas. It estimated:...--The amount of wasted time in traffic totaled 4.2 billion hours, nearly an entire work week for every traveler.


Traffic Congestion Dipping as Economy Falters

[ixion]

1. wasted time, wasted energy...

let's truly change how we commute: anyone who sits in front of a computer or talks on a phone should be able to telecommute. That would reduce congestion in a big way.

[notesdev]

2. It's called

"unemployed people don't commute"