Understanding Westside traffic isn't easy

In Southern California, the automobile has long been synonymous with freedom. Need to go to the store? Jump in the car. Meeting friends for dinner? Not a problem.

But that's not easy to do in Westside communities, where drivers face some of the worst traffic conditions in the nation. As a result, people take longer routes, change routines, limit family outings or don't drive at all during certain times of the day.

For years, Los Angeles transportation officials have tried to get ahead of the problem by collecting traffic data at hundreds of intersections.

But they admit that they're not equipped to deeply analyze it because they lack enough staff.

The data do confirm, however, that Westside traffic is constantly changing. For example, last spring and summer -- with gasoline prices hovering around $4 a gallon -- traffic volumes saw double-digit drops as fewer people chose to drive. Then, as prices declined to around $2.28 a gallon, traffic volumes swung back up.

Read the full story here.

-- Robert J. Lopez in West Los Angeles

Comments

[gregsotir]

And Schwarzeneggar just cut the public transportation budget by over a bililon.

Maybe we should just dump the car and use bicycles.

[Very simple]

Well cry me a river. Westsiders had their chance when the original Red Line subway plans were designed in the 90s. However, due to stereotypical Westside NIMBYism, they voted against it. As a result, I have absolutely no sympathy for Westside traffic woes.

[alex]

Sorry to dissapoint you, Very Simple, but the MTA makes no claims that the Red Line has reduced traffic or delays on any freeway, boulevard or major street. They have also publicly stated that the Expo Line (which will travel through the Westside) is not expected "to reduce traffic or congestion on any freeway, bouelvard, or major street."

Although politicians constantly make the claim that rail will help traffic, no rail line in Los Angeles has ever been shown to have reduced traffic or congestion. The real purpose of rail is to increase the amount of people that can be efficiently moved into and out of any area. Adding people to an area, as the Red Line did to Hollywood, is great for business and economic development -- but more economic development means more traffic not less.