TRAFFIC IMPACT OF HIGHWAY CAPACITY REDUCTIONS

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1998

Subject Area

operations - capacity, operations - traffic, policy - congestion, mode - mass transit

Keywords

United Kingdom, Travel patterns, Transit, Traffic patterns, Traffic flow, Traffic congestion, Traffic capacity, Road closings, Ridership, Reallocations, Public transit, Patronage (Transit ridership), Mass transit, Local transit, Highway capacity, Gridlock (Traffic), Great Britain

Abstract

Closing roads does not always lead to a big increase in traffic congestion, according to new research unveiled by the United Kingdom's Department of the Environment. The project studied the impact on traffic patterns and flows of reductions or reallocations in highway capacity with a view to obtaining a more comprehensive basis for assessing the impact of bus priority measures where the number of passengers who gain may justify reallocating highway capacity to public transport. The results showed that some drivers are dissuaded from traveling by car if they find road capacity is reduced or reallocated.

Share

COinS