A Solution To Traffic Congestion by Peter Gertler, AICP (NAPSA)—Many Americans may soon be on track to save time, money and energy, one expert explains. Over the next 50 years, our country’s population will expand by 120 million people. If highway capacity grows no faster than it has in the past 25 years, by 2035, Americans will be spending 160 hours—or four work weeks—a yearsitting in traffic. mummy As a nation, we can’t possibly build enough roadways to accommodate these demands. Yet, as we scramble to find a solution that will reduce congestion, improve mobility, lower fuel emissions Peter and decrease deGertler pendency on foreign oil, we may have overlooked one form of surface transportation that offers us a proven solution— public transit. The answeris balance. A balanced transportation system integrates multiple modes of transportation, including lightrail, bus rapid transit and highspeed rail. The benefits of public transit are many: Saves time and conserves fuel—541 million hours and 340 million gallons, according to the Texas Transportation Institute’s (TTI) report on congestion. Saves travelers money— Americans living in areas served by public transportation save $18 billion annually in congestion costs. Promotes cleaner air—By reducing the nation’s carbon emis- sions by 37 million metric tons a year—equivalent to the electricity used by 4.9 million households. Public transportation can also help bridge socioeconomic divisions within cities and ultimately preserves our quality oflife. Unfortunately, public transit’s full potential has not been realized because we have relied primarily on interstate highways for the past 50 years—a system that edges closer to being incapable of handling today’s immense commercial and travel demands with each passing day. It’s in such peril that the American Society of Civil Engineers gave our highways a grade of D in its most recent assessment. Some new investmentis bringing public transit systems to more Americans, but existing systems continue to require reinvestment to replace aging infrastructure. Right now, major U.S. transit agencies are borrowing to Maintain operations, even as they increase fares and cut back service. Building more highways is essential, but isn’t enough. We must push for a funding system that will support an investment in public transit, helping to bring balance to our nation’s transportation system. Peter Gertler is national director of public transit services for HNTB Corporation, an engineering, architecture and planning firm. The company is working on the nation’s top public transit pro- jects, including MetroLink, St. Louis, Mo.; Caltrains, San Francisco and San Jose, Calif.; and Sound Transit, Seattle and Tacoma, Wash.
