In Austin, TX, whose frustrating traffic congestion provided the backdrop for the movie “Office Space,” drivers waste an average of one and a half days stuck in traffic every year. Some business leaders pushed for a conventional response to congestion: wider roads and more highways. But the city opted to go down a different path. Recognizing that they could never build enough highways to eliminate traffic congestion, lawmakers instead put a $90 million bond issue on the ballot to improve Austin’s existing streets and make them more hospitable to pedestrians and bicycles. According to blogger Austin Contrarian, “Most of Austin’s roads outside of the central core were laid when the city was more rural than urban. No sidewalks, no bicycle lanes, no sewers, no street trees. But once rural roads now cut through major population centers.” Austin voters approved the bonds on November 2nd. For affirming that transportation investments must include more than just new highway miles, Austin’s bond walks straight onto our list of the best policies of 2010.
Other cities selected for smart policies were Denver, Pittsburg, Cleveland, and New York.
Photo: Austin, TX in 1887. Credit: Augustus Koch; Public Domain
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) said:
Great! That’s awesome! Can Houston trade the Grand Parkway for this option?
Posted on Jan 11, 11 at 11:35 pm