MOBILITY AND THE COSTS OF CONGESTION IN NEW JERSEY

This study measured quantifiable and qualitative impacts of congestion in New Jersey on mobility, the cost of transportation, and economic productivity. It addressed the impacts of congestion on both an individual level (impacts on an average traveler), as well as on areawide levels (impacts on an entire county). Consequently, the costs of congestion are estimated on a per county basis as well as on a per driver basis. The cost combines not only the direct impact of travel delay and excess fuel costs, but also the added cost caused by congestion of providing goods and services. This report presents the results and summarizes the methodology that was used to analyze the cost of congestion in New Jersey. The results focus on the cost of transportation--the costs borne by auto and truck users in terms of increased travel time and additional operating costs caused by travel delay. Available and easy-to-use computer modeling systems allow the integration of congestion benefit-cost analysis within budget planning at the state, county, and municipal levels. An appendix contains a sample of such a system developed by the study team to calculate the cost of congestion, starting from the individual roadway level.