Atlanta Traffic Is Getting Better, But Don't Get Excited Just Yet
Decatur Metro | February 26, 2009 | 12:34 pmA recent study released by the traffic information firm INRIX shows that Atlanta’s traffic congestion dropped 36% in 2008 to the 12th worst in the nation from the 10th worst the year before .
But is this drop in congestion something to cheer about? Well certainly high gas prices – while they lasted – had something to do with it. However the other major factor contributing to a 30% drop in congestion nationwide this past year is a slowed economy. Less people commuting to jobs, fewer goods being shipped, etc…
So you be the judge.
Did Atlanta drop from 10th to 12th because we saw a larger percentage of people hop on public transportation than our U.S. city competition? Or is our economy actually just slowing at a faster rate than cities like 10th ranked Minneapolis or 11th ranked Philly? The answer is some kind of combination of those two.
h/t: Atlanta Business Chronicle
Last night as John Pruitt was reading this particular news item on WSB’s 11:00 news, Monica (Kaufman) Pearson snorted LOUDLY and could be heard laughing off camera. Which I think sums it up nicely.
There’s still plenty of traffic to go around.
[…] Streetsblog Network members, including the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia and Decatur Metro, have blogged about the latest numbers from traffic information firm INRIX, which show declining […]