TransitCenter | Needed in New York State: Less Highway Expansion, More Transportation Choices
May 10, 2023
"Widening highways increases driving and pollution without solving traffic problems long-term because of the well-documented phenomenon of “induced demand:” adding capacity to a highway relieves its congestion at first, and the freer flow attracts more drivers. The volume of cars grows until the highway is congested again, also elevating vehicle mile traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions as a result.
The stakes are high. Georgetown Climate Center recently found that if state DOTs uphold the highway-happy status quo, then the influx of IIJA’s billions could cause state-level transportation emissions to rise by as much as 2%, including in New York."