Explaining the map and preview of traffic series

So what's up with the map in the previous post?

I created it a few weeks ago to help myself get familiar with covering transportation. I wanted some type of easy visual that might show some basic patterns about commuting.

I ran the link to it in a Times story in early May, but I thought it would be worth pulling out again today because it's kind of fun to mouse over.

I also thought it's timely because The Times this Sunday will run the first of a four-part series on traffic in Southern California. It was reported and written by Jeff Rabin and Dan Weikel, who spent more than a year researching and crafting the stories. I've read it and it's good.

The stories examine how long commutes shape the lives of some residents here and how the region got into the traffic pickle we all know very well. In short:

--Many residents, for a variety of reasons, continue to follow the culture here of living far from where they work.

--As the population has grown, investment in infrastructure has lagged as freight movement has increased.

--Local governments keep approving big projects, even when they know there will be serious traffic impacts.

Enjoy the read and put on your thinking caps. The series will begin in Sunday's paper and be available at www.latimes.com.

--Steve Hymon

Comments

[Bart Reed]

Sadly, this kind of money could get the Desert Wind up and running between Vegas and L.A. Instead, valuable public funds are dribbled away to plan an initial segment between Vegas and Prim, which is about 40 miles. More transportation stupidity from Washington to chase a pipe dream.