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Transportation: Commuting Indicator Commuting travel times are getting longer in DuPage County, even though more trips are within the county.
ABOUT THE INDICATOR This indicator represents commuter activity on the roadways and transit lines of DuPage County. Because commuter activity is such a large part of all travel in DuPage and is the primary contributor to the peak travel hour congestion we experience, three charts are included to evaluate commuting trends. The first chart illustrates trends in work-related trips into, out of, and within DuPage County. The second chart shows average commute times for residents of DuPage County. The third chart shows how the distribution of commute times has changed since 1980. OBSERVATIONS Hundreds of thousands of work-related trips are made each day into DuPage County, out of the county, and within the county, and the number of trips has been steadily increasing since 1980 (see Chart 1). Trips into DuPage County have increased the most, although the highest share of related work trips still occur entirely within the county. Probably reflecting the fact that many commutes are within the county, the average commute time for DuPage residents has only increased slightly over the past 20 years (see Chart 2). In 2000, the average commute took 29 minutes, compared with 27 minutes in 1990 and 27.8 minutes in 1980. Still, a fair—and growing—number of DuPage residents have longer commutes: in 2000, nearly 200,000 commuters had at least a 30-minute ride one-way (see Chart 3). TAPESTRY Increased commuting is a good sign from an economic standpoint for several reasons. First, it means more residents are gainfully employed. Second, the increase in work-related trips into and within the county directly reflects the fact that DuPage County has become an employment hub. Finally, all of these commuters, whether they are residents of the county or not, are likely to further contribute to the economic wealth of DuPage by patronizing local restaurants, gas stations, and retail establishments during their time here. However, like increases in traffic volume, more commuters and longer travel times can lead to more congestion on the roads and reduced air quality, and a greater chance of traffic accidents. Congestion puts a strain on the ability of employees to get to the worksite, which could act as a deterrent to businesses and industries considering locating in the area. In addition, people who are spending more time commuting—whether by car or public transit―may experience stress and will have less time to spend with their families. HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE If you have an interest in getting involved, please feel free to contact:
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