RAND Issues Comprehensive Study on Traffic Congestion in Urban Los Angeles; Suggests Ways to Improve Traffic.

Publication: Ascribe Higher Education News Service

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Byline: RAND Corporation

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 3 (AScribe Newswire) -- The RAND Corporation today released a study that offers a comprehensive look at Los Angeles traffic, debunking common myths about the metropolitan region's traffic patterns and detailing the reasons why congestion is so bad -- and why it will get worse in the coming years without significant policy changes.

The report also offers a broad, integrated package of actions that RAND researchers say could improve traffic conditions and enhance transportation alternatives within the next five years, and be sustainable into the future.

"Some of the strategies this report recommends -- especially those that would raise the cost of driving -- are likely to prove controversial," said Paul Sorensen, the study's lead author and an operations researcher at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "But without bold action, congestion across the region will only get worse and cost everyone more -- financially, environmentally and through a diminished quality of life."

By many measures, the Los Angeles metropolitan area leads the nation in urban traffic congestion. For example, the metropolitan region ranks number one for total annual hours of delay for all travelers and total annual gallons of wasted fuel for all travelers.

Researchers say the region already has adopted most of the "easy" ways to reduce congestion -- those that are effective, affordable and uncontroversial -- such as freeway on-ramp meters,...

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