Growing traffic congestion threatens Nation's economy, quality of life - Policy and Legislation - address by Federal Highway Administrator Mary E. Peters - Brief Article

Public Roads, July-August, 2002

In testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Federal Highway Administrator Mary E. Peters said that increased traffic congestion is a growing threat to the Nation's economy and quality of life of all Americans. Peters delivered her testimony on May 21, 2002, during a subcommittee hearing on "Relieving Highway Congestion through Capacity Enhancements and Increased Efficiency."

To enhance the operation of highways, Peters called for increased coordination among agencies responsible for roadway operations, including traffic, public safety, parking, media, and emergency response agencies. Increased capacity; improved efficiency, and proper system preservation have positive effects on the environment, safety, and security of our Nation's highways, she said.

A long-term strategy is needed to address congestion by increasing capacity, making the system more efficient, and preserving the Nation's system of roads and bridges, Peters said. One of the major reasons for increased traffic congestion is that the system has not kept pace with the growing demands placed on it.

From 1980 to 2000, highway travel increased 80 percent, and the number of drivers rose by 30 percent, while the number of miles of highway increased only 2 percent. At the same time, 84 percent of the Nation's $7 trillion in freight traffic uses highways, with truck travel expected to grow by more than 3 percent annually over the next 20 years.

The number of drivers is increasing slightly faster than overall population, and drivers on average are traveling more miles each year. Presently, 91 percent of all person-miles traveled in the United States occur in private vehicles. Although passenger travel growth is expected to slow, it nonetheless will grow more than 40 percent over the next two decades.

Peters stressed that the physical condition of America's transportation infrastructure is improving, in part because of increased Federal funding from the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).

A recent Texas Transportation Institute study estimates, however, that the cost of congestion in just 68 urban areas has grown from $21 billion in 1982 to $78 billion in 1999 (36 hours per driver annually and 6.8 billion gallons of wasted fuel). The institute's study estimated that congestion results in 4.4 billion person hours of delay annually in the 68 urban areas it studied.

Peters also testified that highway improvements, where appropriate, can help save lives and reduce traffic crashes.

"Highway improvements are sometimes the best way to reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on our roads," Peters said. "Removing obstacles, installing barriers and rumble strips, adding passing lanes, and widening shoulders will both improve safety and relieve congestion."

Finally, Peters concluded that while adding capacity, Federal, State, and local agencies will continue to work with other modes of transportation, environmental groups, and other partners and stakeholders to remain good stewards of the environment.