2012 Urban Mobility Report

Congestion levels in large and small urban areas were buffeted by several trends in 2011. Some caused congestion increases and others decreased stop-and-go traffic. The 2011 data are consistent with one past trend, congestion will not go away by itself – action is needed! The problem is very large. In 2011, congestion caused urban Americans to travel 5.5 billion hours more and to purchase an extra 2.9 billion gallons of fuel for a congestion cost of $121 billion. In order to arrive on time for important trips, travelers had to allow for 60 minutes to make a trip that takes 20 minutes in light traffic. While congestion is below its peak in 2005, there is only a short-term cause for celebration. Prior to the economy slowing, just 5 years ago, congestion levels were much higher than a decade ago; these conditions will return as the economy improves. The data show that congestion solutions are not being pursued aggressively enough. The most effective congestion reduction strategy, however, is one where agency actions are complemented by efforts of businesses, manufacturers, commuters and travelers. There is no rigid prescription for the “best way”—each region must identify the projects, programs and policies that achieve goals, solve problems and capitalize on opportunities.

• Record URL:
  http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/mobility-report-2012.pdf
• Record URL:
  http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/mobility-report-2012-wappx.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  http://mobility.tamu.edu/ums/
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/61387
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Southwest Region University Transportation Center

  Texas A&M University
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  National Center for Freight and Infrastructure Research and Education (CFIRE)

  University of Wisconsin, Madison
  1415 Engineering Drive, 2205 Engineering Hall
  Madison, WI  United States  53706

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Schrank, David
  • Eisele, Bill
  • Lomax, Tim
• Publication Date: 2012-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 67p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality; Fuel consumption; Mobility; Traffic congestion; Traffic delays; Travel time; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01472491
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 19 2013 8:47AM