Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
24.8.3 How Will Regional Governance Change
in the Future?
Congestion is everyone
is business. Congestion relief strategies must have both
agency and community acceptances and support. Sound governmental organization
and management are essential to reduce both recurring and non-recurring conges-
tion delay. Agencies must work together and provide the resources needed to
relieve congestion.
Strategies for managing the supply and demand for roads (and parking spaces)
and expanding public and active (walking and biking) transportation should be
consistent with the
vision
of how urban areas should develop in future years. This is
a fundamental requirement that entails coordinating the work of diverse agencies
and private sector interests regarding of land-use decisions at the neighborhood
level, and with transportation decisions at the regional and state levels.
A variety of coordinated congestion-reducing strategies are usually needed to
address recurring and non-recurring congestion. There is no magic answer, no silver
bullet, and change cannot be realized overnight. Getting more productivity from
existing road and public transport systems is essential to reduce congestion and to
improve travel time reliability. Businesses, employers and public policies could
adopt various strategies to modify travel behaviors that reduce VMT. Variable road
pricing in conjunction with transit improvements might become desirable strategies
to reduce VMT growth. New developments can be designed to encourage more
walking and transit trips. However, in many corridors, additional highway capacity
and public transport capacity will be needed to move people and freight more
rapidly and reliably.
'
24.8.3.1 Coordinating Land Use and Transport Decisions
Future urban growth could result in regional cities. How these regional cities are
developed and designed will in
c con-
gestion. Better coordination of transport facilities and land development will be
essential for both congestion relief and more livable communities. This includes:
fl
uence the growth and migration of traf
Locating different types of activities in the same zone with high density can
reduce the per capita use of private motor vehicles and can enable more public
transit use, walking, and bicycle trips, and
Coordinating among the independent policies of local zoning boards, state, and
federals transportation of
cials.
Urban land will need to be better managed to reduce VMT growth in future
decades. This is a key strategy for long term congestion relief and livability in
metropolitan areas.
