Unclogging America’s Arteries 1999 - 2004 Effective Relief for Highway Bottlenecks Saving Lives Conserving Fuel Preventing Injuries Improving the Economy Cutting Commute Times Accelerating Cleaner Air Reducing Greenhouse Gases ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was made possible thanks to the generosity of a number of contributing partners. Sponsors include: Platinum Level www.autoalliance.org Gold Level www.cement.org www.nssga.org Silver Level www.agc.org www.aednet.org In addition, the Highway Users recognizes the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association for its support. Finally, the Highway Users would like to thank the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Offi cials (AASHTO) for the group’s assistance and cooperation in developing this study. UNCLOGGING AMERICA’S ARTERIES Effective Relief for Highway Bottlenecks 1999-2004 American Highway Users Alliance One Thomas Circle, NW Tenth Floor Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-857-1200 Fax: 202-857-1220 www.highways.org About the American Highway Users Alliance About Cambridge Systematics The American Highway Users Alliance is a nonprofit advocacy Cambridge Systematics is an internationally recognized, organization serving as the united voice of the transportation employee-owned consulting firm that has been providing community promoting safe, congestion-free highways and planning, policy, and management solutions for more than 25 enhanced freedom of mobility. Known as the Highway Users, the years. Cambridge Systematics applies state-of-the-art analytical group has worked for sound transportation policy in the United techniques to develop innovative, practical solutions for clients in States since 1932. many areas, including transportation planning and management, travel demand forecasting, CVO, ITS, information technology, The Highway Users represents motorists, truckers, bus companies asset management, and market research. and a broad cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways to transport their families, customers, The firm’s headquarters is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, employees and products. Our members pay the taxes that finance with other offices in Oakland, California; Washington, DC; the federal highway program and advocate public policies that Chicago, Illinois; Seattle, Washington; Princeton, New Jersey; dedicate those taxes to improved highway safety and mobility. Denver, Colorado; and Knoxville, Tennessee. Cambridge Systematics serves a broad mix of public organizations and The Highway Users regularly publishes studies on transportation private corporate clients. These organizations include a variety trends and developments, as well as reports on other pertinent of local, state, national, and international agencies, as well as issues that affect highway safety and mobility. For more transportation, logistics, telecommunications, and manufacturing information, visit our web site at www.highways.org. companies; electric utilities; banks; and other private corporations and business organizations. © Copyright February 2004 by the American Highway Users Alliance. Prepared for the American Highway Users Alliance by Cambridge Systematics, Inc. Member Price: $25 All rights reserved. Nonmember Price: $75 Table of Contents I. Executive Summary 1 II. Introduction: A Primer on Highway Bottlenecks 4 and the Benefits of Congestion Relief III. Effective Relief for America’s Worst Bottlenecks 11 Ranking the Bottlenecks 11 What Has Changed in the Past Five Years? 13 Success Story: US-59 (Southwest Freeway)/I-610 Loop in Houston 15 Success Story: e “Big I” in Albuquerque 16 Success Story: I-25/I-225 Interchange in Denver 17 America’s Worst Bottlenecks and the Benefits of Fixing em 18 1) Los Angeles, CA: US-101 (Ventura Fwy) at I-405 Interchange 20 2) Houston, TX: I-610 at I-10 Interchange (West) 22 3) Chicago, IL: I-90/94 at I-290 Interchange (“Circle Interchange”) 24 4) Phoenix, AZ: I-10 at SR-51/SR-202 Interchange (“Mini-Stack”) 26 5) Los Angeles, CA: I-405 (San Diego Fwy) at I-10 Interchange 28 6) Atlanta, GA: I-75 at I-85 Interchange 30 7) Washington, DC (MD): I-495 at I-270 Interchange 32 8) Los Angeles, CA: I-10 (Santa Monica Fwy) at I-5 Interchange 34 9) Los Angeles, CA: I-405 (San Diego Fwy) at I-605 Interchange 36 10) Atlanta, GA: I-285 at I-85 Interchange (“Spaghetti Junction”) 38 11) Chicago, IL: I-94 (Dan Ryan Expwy) at I-90 Skyway Split (Southside) 40 12) Phoenix, AZ: I-17 (Black Canyon Fwy) at I-10 Interchange (the “Stack”) to Cactus Rd. 42 13) Los Angeles, CA: I-5 (Santa Ana Fwy) at SR-22/SR-57 Interchange (“Orange Crush”) 44 14) Providence, RI: I-95 at I-195 Interchange 46 15) Washington, DC (MD): I-495 at I-95 Interchange 48 16) Tampa, FL: I-275 at I-4 Interchange (“Malfunction Junction”) 50 17) Atlanta, GA: I-285 at I-75 Interchange 52 18) Seattle, WA: I-5 at I-90 Interchange 54 19) Chicago, IL: I-290 (Eisenhower Expwy) Between Exits 17b and 23a 56 20) Houston, TX: I-45 (Gulf Freeway) at US-59 Interchange 58 21) San Jose, CA: US-101 at I-880 Interchange 60 22) Las Vegas, NV: US-95 at I-15 Interchange (“Spaghetti Bowl”) 62 23) San Diego, CA: I-805 atI-15 Interchange 64 24) Cincinnati, OH: I-75, from Ohio River Bridge to I-71 Interchange 66 Bottlenecks Nationwide: Benefits Analysis 68 IV. Summary and Conclusions 70 Appendix A: Methodology 72 Appendix B: Major Bottlenecks State-by-State 78 Appendix C: Major Bottlenecks Ranked 1 to 233 87 American Highway Users Alliance • Effective Relief for Highway Bottlenecks • www.highways.org 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY he American Highway Users Alliance in 1999 released a first-of-its-kind study examining a significant T cause of traffic congestion – the country’s worst highway bottlenecks. In the five years that have passed, two trends have become unmistakably clear. Congestion Has Grown Across the U.S. In 1999, we identified 167 major highway bottlenecks located in 30 states plus the District of Columbia. Using the same methodology and delay criteria, the number of severe traffic chokepoints in the U.S. where drivers experience at least 700,000 hours of delay annually has now increased to a total of 233 bottlenecks in 33 states plus the District, a 40 percent increase. But Improvements Are Possible Seven of the top 18 bottlenecks we identified five years ago – including hot spots in Houston, Albuquerque, Denver, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, DC – no longer appear on our ranking of the country’s worst chokepoints because major reconstruction projects are either completed or underway to improve traffic flow at these sites. In Albuquerque alone, motorists have regained more than 15 million hours each year that would have otherwise been wasted sitting in traffic at the I-40/I-25 interchange, also know at the “Big I.” Similar improvements are possible nationwide. Over the 20-year life of the projects, modest improvements to improve traffic flow at the 233 severe bottlenecks we identify in this report would prevent more than 449,500 crashes (including some 1,750 fatalities and 220,500 injuries). Carbon dioxide emissions would drop by an impressive 77 percent at these bottlenecks and more than 40 billion gallons of fuel would be conserved. Emissions of smog-causing volatile organic compounds would drop by nearly 50 percent, while carbon monoxide would be reduced by 54 percent at those sites. Rush hour delays would decline by 74 percent, saving commuters who must negotiate these bottlenecks an average of more than 30 minutes each day. The Benefits of Unclogging America’s Arteries his updated study attempts to quantify the benefits Americans can realize if major bottlenecks are T eliminated, and conversely, the price to be paid if congestion is allowed to increase. The benefits of congestion relief include: n Saving Lives. Traffic congestion causes highway crashes that can kill drivers, their passengers and others. As highway crowding increases and motorists jockey for position at exits and entryways, the potential for crashes increases. Improving bottlenecks saves lives and averts injuries. n Improving the Environment. Bottlenecks retard the nation’s otherwise impressive progress in improving air quality. Vehicles caught in stop-and-go traffic emit far more pollutants – particularly carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds – than they do when operating without frequent braking and acceleration. Improving bottlenecks reduces tailpipe pollutants. n Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Vehicles emit carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, as fuel is consumed. Because congestion relief has a direct effect on fuel consumption, improvement projects will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. n Conserving Fuel. The longer vehicles are delayed in traffic, the more fuel they consume. Nationwide, 5.7 billion gallons of fuel are wasted annually because of congestion. n Saving Time. Traffic congestion is a major source of frustration for American motorists, adding stress to our already busy lives. Reducing road delays eases that frustration and means more time for families, errands, work and play. I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE I. American Highway Users Alliance • Effective Relief for Highway Bottlenecks • www.highways.org 1 n Enhancing Productivity. Bottlenecks also delay product deliveries, inhibiting productivity and raising costs. Businesses suffer direct economic consequences because of congestion. In the world of “just-in-time” deliveries, time really is money. Congested roadways can also discourage businesses from locating facilities and bringing jobs to urban areas. Improving