endgridlock.org: Washington Region's Congestion Continues to Worsen in Latest National Study

    WASHINGTON, May 7 Commenting today on the Texas
Transportation Institute's 2001 study of the nation's most congested
metropolitan areas, Gus Bauman, Chairman of endgridlock.org, a grassroots
transportation advocacy organization, stated, "Gridlock is getting worse in
the Washington area, and local officials have no plans that will reduce this
trend any time soon without a major outcry from the public."
    The TTI study data show that annual hours of delay, gallons of fuel wasted
in traffic, and annual dollar cost of congestion are all up for the Washington
region. "In short, this study shows that worsening gridlock continues to
diminish our region's quality of life and robs us of time we could be spending
with our families," said Mr. Bauman.
    "Clearly our morning and evening commutes are getting worse," Bauman
continued, "despite the strong gains we have been making in transit use and
telework, which means these changes alone are not enough to address our
traffic woes."
    "What we need is a balance of roads, bridges, and transit if we are to
effectively counter this disturbing trend" noted Bauman. He added that it is
worth noting that that the Greater Washington region is first in the nation in
carpooling and second (behind only New York City) in transit use, but is at
the bottom in road congestion.
    The latest TTI study documents that from 1994 to 1999 (the latest five
year period studied), the percent of peak-period travel under congested
conditions on area freeways has increased from 74 percent to 78 percent. On
principal arterial streets, the percentage of peak period travel under
congested conditions in 1999 is even higher at 83 percent.
    "Eight out of ten of us who have to travel during rush-hour are traveling
on heavily congested roads. So why," Bauman asked, "is anyone surprised we
have road rage? What more do we have to do to convince the politicians to get
serious about this problem?"
    During the same timeframe, the percent of peak period travel in "extreme
congestion" on freeways has increased from 19% of peak-period trips to 26%,
and on principal arterials the number of peak-period trips under "extreme
congestion" has increased from 37 percent to 44 percent.
    Bauman is the Chairman of endgridlock.org, a 7,000-member, on-line
grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in
this region by empowering citizens with the tools and information necessary to
get involved in the process of ending gridlock in the region.

    CONTACT:  Gus Bauman of endgridlock.org, 202-789-6013.

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