Adding More Highway Capacity Only Increases Congestion And Gridlock

Where will the new traffic go?

You cannot build yourself out of congestion, as it never works.

A good example is Boise Idaho, where between 1993 and 2017, roads expanded 141 percent while population grew 117 percent. But congestion increased 446 percent.

The previous example is what is happening across the united States and Canada.

It seems the rubber on asphalt crowd would like everyone to ignore the concept of induced demand, which shows that building new highways or expanding existing ones might seem to relieve congestion at first, but over time, attracts more drivers. Before long, new lanes are just as crowded as the old ones were.

There is a part solution and Rail for the Valley offers this.

For under $2 billion, we can reinstate a modern regional railway service from Vancouver to Chilliwack, using modern diesel or electric multiple units, offering  a peak hour service of three trains per hour per direction, which could offer a maximum hourly capacity of around 3,000 pphpd.

Not bad, considering that the total cost to extend the Expo and Millennium Lines a mere 21.7 km is costing $11 billion!

Sadly, in BC, proven unworkable highway expansion wins votes and proven rail alternatives do not.

 

The Stadler Flirt DMU, as ordered by Ottawa. Capacity around 450 per train-set. A two car train-set would have a capacity of 900.

The Stadler Flirt DMU, as ordered by Ottawa. Capacity around 450 per train-set. A two car train-set would have a capacity of 900.

‘Overdue’: Business groups decry delays on widening Highway 1 through Fraser Valley

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