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Date:         Tue, 11 Jan 2000 12:39:04 -0800
Reply-To: Sierra Club Forum on Transportation Issues
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From: John Holtzclaw <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Cincy induced traffic press release today
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     I released this press release today, and it looks like a solid hit. Two
     TVs say they will report it tonight (not sure yet about the other
     two); both the Enquirer and Post say they will run it tomorrow; two
     radio stations with interviews by me are doing it for today and
     tomorrow; and I'm scheduled to discuss the issue on the big talk radio
     show (WLW-700 AM) on Thursday.  I also sent a piece to Louisville
     outlets with a Louisville group member quote.  Only the Ohio AP blew
     it off.

     Glen Brand

     -------------------------------------------------------------------

     NEW & WIDER HIGHWAYS WORSEN CINCINNATI'S TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK AND SPRAWL:
     NEW STUDY SAYS NEW HIGHWAYS CAUSE, NOT RELIEVE, UP TO 43% OF TRI-STATE
     TRAFFIC JAMS

     CINCINNATI-Widening and building new highways actually causes, not
     relieves, traffic congestion in Cincinnati and other major U.S.
     metropolitan areas, according to a new study presented today to the
     79th Annual Transportation Research Board in Washington, DC.  The
     study estimated that up to 43% of traffic in Greater Cincinnati is
     caused just by expanding the area's road network.  The study also says
     that Tri-State traffic congestion would have grown less rapidly if no
     new or wider highways were built at all, contrary to what highway
     planners have predicted.

     The study, "Analysis of Metropolitan Highway Capacity and the Growth
     in Vehicle Miles of Travel," used data from the Texas Transportation
     Institute's most recent database for 70 urbanized areas from
     1982-1996. Using three models with different variables, the study
     found that highway-induced traffic in the Cincinnati area (including
     Northern Kentucky) increased by 14%-43%.  Highway-induced traffic
     estimates for nearby metropolitan areas were 12%-35% in Columbus;
     13%-30% in Cleveland; 20%-50% in Indianapolis; and 34%-77% in
     Louisville.  The national average was 15%-45%.

     "Simply put, this study adds to the growing evidence that traffic
     congestion has been made worse, not alleviated as road builders claim,
     by more and bigger highways.  It follows that to reduce traffic
     congestion, and therefore air pollution and suburban sprawl, we need
     to stop building and widening sprawl-causing highways," said Glen
     Brand, director of the Cincinnati office of the National Sierra Club.
     "Instead it would be smarter to plan our communities better so that we
     aren't forced to drive everywhere, and to provide greater
     transportation choices such as commuter light rail and expanded bus
     service."

     The study's authors, Robert Noland, University of London Center for
     Transport Studies and William A. Cowart, ICF Consulting in Fairfax,
     VA., conclude that "induced travel effects strongly imply that pursuit
     of congestion reduction by building more capacity will have
     short-lived benefits. This may be evidence for a strong sprawl
     inducing impact of large increases in lane mile capacity relative to
     the existing infrastructure. Recognition of these impacts implies that
     the benefits of new highway construction are less than would be
     calculated from a static analysis that included no induced travel
     impacts."

     Currently, highway expansion is occurring all over the Tri-State,
     including widening of I-71 and I-75, the new Butler County Regional
     Highway, and a proposed Eastgate highway in Clermont County.

     "In the light of this new research, policy-makers, including County
     commissioners and engineers, Ohio Department of Transportation, and
     Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Council of Regional Governments, need to
     re-calculate the benefits and costs of highway expansion, said Sierra
     Club's Brand.  "We are calling for a balanced transportation program
     that spends as much on travel choices such as clean buses and light
     rail trains as on building new sprawl-and-congestion-causing
     highways."

     Haynes Goddard, Professor of Economics at the University of Cincinnati
     with expertise in transportation economics, said that "this study is a
     careful statistical analysis of the perverse effects of insufficiently
     considered highway investments, and how they can make our region a
     less desirable place to live. It makes it clear that putting all of
     our proverbial transport eggs in the highway basket reduces the
     economic vitality of our region".

     One study in Oregon showed that by planning development so that people
     have easy access to commuter trains and other public transportation
     choice, traffic for new development can be reduced from 10 car trips
     per day to 6 trips per day.

     "If people are tired of being stuck in sprawl mall traffic, we need to
     promote smarter planning and increase travel choices, not just build
     more highways," said Brett Hulsey, coordinator of the Sierra Club
     Challenge to Sprawl Campaign.  "More roads lead to more traffic like
     bigger pants tend to lead to more weight gain.  We need to change our
     philosophy to reduce, not increase sprawl and traffic."

     The Sierra Club is calling on state and local leaders to spend at
     least half of their transportation money on safety improvements to
     existing streets and roads, and for public transportation
     alternatives, and promote traffic impact analysis on new sprawl
     development, and good planning measures to minimize traffic.

     More information on induced traffic and sprawl can be obtained from
     the Sierra Club web site at www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/resources/links.

     -30-

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