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Transportation: Volume and Congestion Indicator There are more vehicles on the roads in DuPage County, and they are traveling more miles per day.
ABOUT THE INDICATOR Although there is no single indicator that directly measures traffic congestion, various indicators can be used to paint a picture of the problem. In this section, growth in the number of registered vehicles in DuPage County, combined with population growth and the number of vehicle miles traveled in the County, are used to assess the demand and subsequent strain placed on our roadways. A complete indicator of congestion would also measure how well transportation resources are meeting demand. DuPage County registered vehicles include all private, business, and governmental vehicles. Average vehicle miles per day are measured in millions and include the total number of miles traveled by all vehicles on all DuPage County roadways in an average day. OBSERVATIONS As population in a county increases, so does the number of registered vehicles. As a society, we are more dependent on cars, and DuPage County is no exception. Growth in the number of registered vehicles in the County has been somewhat faster than population growth over the last 40 years, and DuPage has reached a point where there are nearly as many vehicles as people. In 2001, there were approximately 800,000 registered vehicles, and the population was just over 900,000. Average daily vehicle miles have increased as well, but only slightly in recent years. In 2001, on average, more than 20 million miles were traveled in DuPage County each day. The slower growth, coupled with continued increases in the number of vehicles, suggests that driving patterns have changed. Specifically, cars are being used more and more for short trips—to jobs, schools, or shopping centers, for example—as opposed to long drives. TAPESTRY Increased traffic volume is a good gauge of economic stability as it usually reflects growth in vehicle ownership and population and thriving employment. It suggests that more people are visiting local businesses and traveling to jobs. Higher traffic volume also relates to increased family participation in cultural and leisure activities, which is good for families and good for the establishments they visit. On the other hand, increased traffic volume leads to congestion, which ultimately contributes to poorer air quality. Poor air quality can harm trees and waterways and affect the health of our population. More traffic on the roads also means a higher potential for accidents—and accident-related injuries. DuPage County carefully monitors traffic patterns in order to adapt to changes in volume and reduce congestion. In fact, since 1985, the DuPage County Division of Transportation has added more than 300 miles of roads and has improved existing roadways through widening and extensions. There are limits to the county’s ability to add lanes and expand roads, however, so other options for alleviating congestion, such as car pools and special car pool lanes, should be explored. HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE If you have an interest in getting involved, please feel free to contact:
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