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<br /> it <br /> <br /> I <br /> S <br /> s s <br /> _ <br /> September 19, 2007 <br /> CONTACT: Gary McNeel, Transportation Analyst, 541-682-8451 <br /> From Public Information Section, 682-5523 or 954-2938 <br /> 2-PAGE NEWS RELEASE <br /> FOR IMME©IATE RELEASE <br /> <br /> 'll, Ldcal Efforts Help Slow Worsening Problems of Traffic Congestion <br /> Even though traffic congestion is on the rise in Eugene, this metropolitan area continues to <br /> have fewer traffic delays than similar-size urban areas in the U.S., according to a report released <br /> Tuesday by'the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). <br /> Acrass the country, traffic congestion is creating a $78 billion annual drain on the U.S. <br /> <br /> I', economy in the form of 4.2 billion lost hours and 2.9 billion gallons of wasted fuel, TTI's 2007 <br /> Urban Mobility Report found. The report, which is based on 2005 data, concluded that traffic <br /> <br /> ~I congestion is worsening in all of the 437 urban areas studied. <br /> Not surprisingly, the Los Angeles area ranked number 1 in traffic congestion, with the <br /> average LA driver stuck in traffic for a whopping 72 hours a year and wasting 57 gallons of fuel a <br /> year. By contrast, the Eugene-Springfield area ranked 72"d in the report, with the typical Eugene- <br /> <br /> II! area motorist spending an average of 14 hours a year and 8 gallons of fuel due to congested <br /> <br /> ~I'~, traffic. The Salem area had a very similar ranking. Portland, the third metro area studied in <br /> <br /> i <br /> Oregon, ranked 33~d for annual delay per traveler. <br /> <br /> i <br /> <br /> j Traffic congestion has increased over time in this area. During peak travel hours, the <br /> <br /> I <br /> average IoCal driver in 1982 lost about 6 hours a year due to congestion. That figure increased <br /> sli htl to 7 hours in 1995 before doubling to 14 hours in 2005. Overall, traffic delays in this area <br /> 9 Y <br /> <br /> ~I in 2005 amounted to more than 1.7 million lost hours and more than 1 million gallons of wasted <br /> fuel. TTI calculated the economic impact of congestion in the Eugene area in 2005 at $32 million. <br /> (more) <br /> i <br /> Eugene Public Works • www.eugene-or.gov/pw <br /> 858 Pearl Street, Eugene, Oregon 97501 • 541-682-5523 • fax 541-682-6826 • e-mail pwadmin@ci.eugene.or.us <br /> <br />