Earlier this year, US Department of Transportation released proposed requirements for how states and metropolitan areas will have to measure traffic congestion. They are accepting public comments on the rule until August 20, 2016, and we suggest you drop them a line.
Here’s why.
TCC welcomes the opportunity for new congestion measures, however, we are concerned that the draft rule does not go far enough.
TCC and our federal partners have reviewed USDOT’s 425-page rule and have found that it doubles down on outdated measures of congestion, which focus on moving cars quickly through an area.
This kind of requirement could push local communities to spend billions of dollars in vain attempts to build their way out of congestion, promoting sprawl instead of dense, economically vibrant communities. Increasing highway capacity can divide neighborhoods and prioritizes unrealistic vehicular speeds over access to jobs and schools for all modes.
Together we have a chance to improve this rule.
USDOT takes comments on rulemaking very seriously and your comments will have an impact on the final rule. With your help, we can succeed in creating congestion measures that encourage solutions that respect neighborhoods, diverse modes of transportation and smart taxpayer investments.
But this will require a coordinated effort between our partners and members.
Click here to ask USDOT to improve their rule to incentivize transportation investments that connect more people to opportunity and knit communities together rather than divide them.
