ECONOMIC COSTS OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION

THE ECONOMIC-BENEFIT FACTOR AND THE HUMANITARIAN FACTOR OF SAVING LIVES ARE THE TWO MOST-COMPELLING INCENTIVES FOR SUPPORT OF ESSENTIAL ROAD PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, ALARM HAS BEEN EXPRESSED REPEATEDLY ABOUT THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT OF TRAFFIC JAMS ON DOWNTOWN BUSINESS, PROPERTY VALUES, MUNICIPAL TAX STRUCTURES - ON THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES GENERALLY. IT HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNIZED THAT CLOGGED TRAFFIC IS NOT ONLY A SOURCE OF GREAT PUBLIC INCONVENIENCE AND HAZARD, BUT THAT IT ADDS HEAVILY TO THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE PRICE OF GOODS AND SERVICES TO ALL CONSUMERS. THE PUBLICATIONS DIVISION OF THE AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY FOUNDATION HAS REVIEWED MUCH OF THE AVAILABLE DATA AND LITERATURE PERTAINING TO ECONOMICS OF CONGESTION. WHILE BY NO MEANS EXHAUSTIVE, THE FINDINGS SERVE TO GIVE SOME IDEA OF THE SCOPE, PRINCIPLES, AND METHODS OF PAST RESEARCH.