Citation

Dunphy R. Transp. Res. Circular 1998; (481): 16-20.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, U.S. National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

One of the most fundamental tools for dealing with growing transportation demands is expanding the capacity of the transportation system, preferably by a little more than current needs, to allow for some future growth. New homes, new offices, and new stores require expanded transportation capacity. This can be accomplished by adding new routes, additional capacity to existing routes, or better operations to squeeze more output from the same facilities. Criticism of highway expansion as facilitating sprawl and generating more demand is troubling, because there are virtually no other choices if one cannot expand the supply. This paper offers some ideas on the topic based on the National Research Council report "Expanding Metropolitan Highways: Implications for Air Quality and Energy Use", analysis of 1990 regional data, and thoughts about pacing improvements in the highway system to underlying growth in population, the economy, and travel.