Thanks, Eric, for posting this op-ed piece.

Jane Clark
Des Moines
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----------
> From: Eric G Hurley <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Cincy induced traffic press release today
> Date: March 01, 2000 6:11 PM
>
> Folks,
>
> I used the information from Tom Mathews' posting about highway induced
> traffic problems to comment on the highway construction plans in Des
Moines
> in a letter to the Des Moines Register. Unfortunately, for whatever
reason
> (perhaps too long or not considered timely) the Register did not run it.
> So, I pass the letter on to you for your consideration and comments. I
> really do believe that rapidly growing cities in Iowa such as Des Moines,
> Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Ames, and, for that matter, Waverly, Carroll,
and
> Pella have a tremendous opportunity to grow in ways that would avoid the
> problems seen in other urban areas. However, we currently not only
tolerate
> the current system, but we engineer it and subsidize it.
>
> I hope you find this of interest.
>
> Eric G. Hurley
> 829 Douglas Ave #3
> Ames IA 50010-6221
> [log in to unmask]
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
> February 10, 2000
>
>
> Dear Editor:
>
> With the rebuilding of I-235 and the addition and expansion of several
> other roads in the Des Moines area, there will indeed be some "dramatic
> changes to the city" (Road Revision, January 16). If Des Moines'
experience
> is the same as other cities there will be more traffic, more gridlock,
more
> sprawl, more loss of farmland, and more pollution.
>
> A recent study titled "Analysis of Metropolitan Highway Capacity and the
> Growth in Vehicle Miles of Travel" (Robert Noland, University of London
> Center for Transport Studies, and William A. Cowart, ICF Consulting,
> Fairfax, VA.) showed that cities which have similarly "improved" their
> transportation system by building and expanding highways actually induced
> more gridlock. Indianapolis experienced a 20%-50% highway induced
increase
> in traffic, Louisville a 34% to 77% increase. The national average was
15%-45%.
>
> New roads create the opportunity and pressure for development further and
> further away from their employment. Housing development occurs in the
sort
> of expansive, land wasting development common on the west side. People,
at
> first anyway, find it easy to travel further to get their services.
>
> Simply put, a new urban highway closes down your neighborhood grocery and
> hardware store and makes it feasible to travel to the new Lowe's and
> Walmart Superstores that are starting to ring the city. In an odd twist,
> inner city people now have to travel out to suburban malls and
superstores
> to make their purchases. As people drive more miles to get services,
> traffic increases. With that there is more gridlock and more pollution.
>
> Current cost-benefit analysis fails to take adequate account of the
changes
> in development and traffic pressure caused by these urban highways. Thus
> local decision makers are mislead into making poor transportation
planning
> decisions.
>
> The Des Moines metro area has a tremendous opportunity right now to plan
> their transit system before the problems become too frustrating and
> inefficient, starting with I-235. Perhaps I-235 needs to be eliminated
> rather than expanded. Cities like San Francisco, Portland, OR, and
> Milwaukee have found that by removing urban freeways and reconnecting the
> neighborhoods that were split and blighted, they are revitalizing their
> communities. Des Moines could reconnect the medical facilities on the
north
> side to the downtown again. Parts of the corridor could become linear
parks
> with commuter bike paths to downtown. This could dramatically improve the
> desirability of the near northeast side and other neighborhoods.
>
> Less radically, Des Moines should consider a scaled back rebuilding of
> I-235 aimed at improving the roadbed and exits to increase traffic flow
and
> safety and to make the road more aesthetically pleasing. No new lanes
> should be added, except, perhaps a special high speed bus lane to
> facilitate mass transit or a commuter bike path. Major through streets
like
> Euclid and University can be improved with the addition of turn lanes and
> computerized traffic lights to improve traffic flow and carry more
traffic.
> A more limited rebuild would also reduce the tremendous economic cost of
> having the road closed for so long as currently planned.
>
> For more distant transit, Des Moines should expand and improve its bus
> system, increasing its hours, ease of use, adding special priority bus
> lanes, and using technology to provide buses with priority at traffic
> lights. Rail and light rail should be seriously considered to move people
> from the suburbs to the downtown. Bike routes should be planned and
> constructed to facilitate safe, high speed commuting.
>
> To make this work planning and zoning of the entire metropolitan area
would
> have to be coordinated with the transit system. Housing development
should
> be encouraged near transit lines. New neighborhoods should contain many
of
> the common daily retail services such as a grocery and coffee shop to
> reduce the need to drive so far for services.
>
> Contrary to what we have expected, new urban highways are making many
> cities less desirable places to live. Des Moines is on the same path. Des
> Moines needs to plan now so that in 30 years average commutes haven't
> increased to 60 minutes or more and air pollution is choking us. Our
> quality of life and economic vitality is at stake.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
>
> Eric G. Hurley
>
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