Traveling Time (New Orleans)
The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) recently released its 2010 Urban Mobility Report, which provides information about traffic congestion in 439 urban areas in the United States. Based on 2009 data, TTI estimates that congestion costs 4.8 billion hours of extra time and 115 billion dollars worth of delay and fuel expenses each year. In the New Orleans metro area, annual delay time per auto commuter is 31 hours – nearly an entire work week! Vehicle exhaust and idling are sources of particle pollution that impacts our health year-round, as well as pollutants that form ground level ozone during warmer weather.
Viewer Tip: Many commuters drive alone. Give these tips a try to slash time spent on the road and reduce air pollution:
- Telecommute. If you are able to work from home, give it a try! Telecommuting one day per week for a year can save the typical commuter 1200 miles on his or her vehicle and 58 gallons of gas.
- Carpool. A vehicle with four passengers achieving 15 miles per gallon is 2.4 times more efficient than four small sedans with one passenger, each getting 25 miles per gallon.
- Walk or bike. Leave the car at home for short trips to save gas and money.
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
(Source: Texas Transportation Institute. Urban Mobility Report 2010. Released in December 2010. Available from: http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/mobility_report_2010.pdf; Federal Highway Administration. “It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air.” www.italladdsup.gov)
