Traffic Tangles (Philadelphia, PA)
The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) recently released its 2009 Urban Mobility Report which tracks U.S. traffic patterns. Based on 2007 data, TTI estimates that sitting in traffic cost Americans 87 billion dollars in wasted fuel and lost productivity in just one year. Denver’s annual delay time for travelers during peak traffic was about 38 hours in 2007 – nearly an entire work week! Not only does sitting in traffic waste your time, it also impacts our air quality and health. Vehicle exhaust is a source of pollutants that form ground level ozone pollution when combined with heat and sunlight.
Viewer Tip: Up to 90 percent of work commuters drive alone. You can reduce your impact on air quality and traffic congestion by sharing a ride with coworkers or friends. Consider this: One car carrying four passengers that gets 15 miles per gallon (mpg) is 2.4 times more efficient than four small cars with one passenger, each getting 25 mpg!
Do you live close to work? Walk or bike on some days to eliminate emissions altogether.
Season: Summer
(Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M System. “2009 Urban Mobility Report.” Full report and summary tables available from: http://mobility.tamu.edu/ums/; Federal Highway Administration. “It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air.” www.italladdsup.gov)
