Here are the latest congestion cost numbers from the 2007 Annual Urban Mobility Report for Virginia regions (based on 2005 numbers):
Washington, DC-VA-MD
Total annual congestion cost (in time and gasoline): $2,331 million
Annual cost per traveler: $1,094
Increase in congestion costs per traveler since 2000: 33 percent
Needed lane miles built yearly to maintain constant level of congestion: 218
Hampton Roads
Total annual congestion cost: $467 million
Annual cost per traveler: $550
Increase in congestion costs per traveler since 2000: 22 percent
Needed lane miles built yearly to maintain constant level of congestion: 70
Richmond
Total annual congestion cost: $181 million
Annual cost per traveler: $362
Increase in congestion costs per traveler since 2000: 42 percent
Needed lane miles built yearly to maintain constant level of congestion: 130
As a Richmonder, I find the numbers alarming. While our congestion costs are low compared to NoVa and Hampton Roads, they are increasing much more rapidly. Congestion is directly correlated to the size of the metropolitan area. Richmond has less congestion than NoVa and Hampton Roads because it is smaller. But we’re catching up fast despite the addition of significant highway capacity in the past decade?
Why? My hypothesis: Because new highway construction, combined with local zoning policies, has accelerated the scatteration of development over broader areas. If I’m right, that scattered development has led to fast-rising increase in Vehicle Miles Driven. One of these days, I’ll track down that data to prove or disprove my hypothesis.
Also, consider this, Richmonders: While the Washington region has five times the Richmond regoin’s population, it requires only 68 percent more lane-miles of roadway construction to maintain current levels of congestion. Our region has an impending crisis — one that we can’t possibly build our way out of — and we’re utterly oblivious to it.