Interpretations from the
Mayan calendar marked the year 2012 as the end of the world. That didn't happen,
but by the look of the freeways in Los Angeles, Calif., they resembled the
picture of motorists desperately attempting to escape their city.
The INRIX National Traffic
Scorecard listed Los Angeles as the worst traffic city in America. Almost every
Southern California resident deals with this highway quagmire on a daily basis.
Dr. Jalal Torabzadeh, a
CSULB professor of Engineering, says population growth in the region has
greatly increased traffic. In the last thirty years, California's population
has nearly doubled indicating more motorists on an ageing highway
infrastructure.
A minority of residents is
turning to other modes like public transit. But they still complain that these
options do not have the preferred consistency and frequency they need.
"Certain areas are
too crowded and are not able to establish any kind of public transportation except
buses. And the buses have inconvenient times and are not popular except with
low income individuals," he said.
Can Los Angeles ever
become a public transit friendly city?
"We started late. Now
it is much more expensive and strategically difficult," he said, "However,
the benefits of a public transit system would cost the public, government and
individual, less."
The Department of
Transportation receives the third largest amount of funding in the 2013- 2014
California State Budget. The goal is to accommodate the cars that are already
here. At the same time, highway construction leads to heavier congestion for
commuters, e.g. 2010 "carmageddon".
Richard Rodriguez, of
Rosemead, was spending almost $100 a week to fill up his Chevy truck for his
commute to his work in Lancaster.
"It would take me an
hour and a half to get to work and it took away my energy. I tried to do the
carpool thing but no one lived close to me," said Rodriguez.
The three-year project
added a 10-mile carpool lane on the 405. Even with this, the time it takes to
get to your destination is longer and costs more. What other options is there
to help alleviate this problem?
"Families are going
to make the big change. If as parents, we can educate our kids on how to not
waste energy, time and being more efficient," said Dr. Torabzadeh,
"the government is trying but the change has to be at the individual
level."
Veronica Gregg, a student
at CSULB, takes the Long Beach Transit bus or walks as her two ways of
transportation.
"I spend $10 a week
max." she said, "A car is not on my want or need list. Los Angeles
has, 100 percent, an adequate public transportation system. They (motorists)
just need to say go green. That's it."
Gregg's message is simple
and clear when it comes to making the switch but for some it is not that
easy. The government and other companies
are trying to make it easier for residents to save time and energy.
Government agencies are
taking steps forward by implementing flexible hours. This reduces the number of
days you come to work but extends the duration of your workday.
Private companies can get
involved by establishing toll roads, which show beneficial since motorists are
willing to pay to not get caught in traffic.
"Toll roads can be
difficult for urban areas like Los Angeles because we are limited on space,"
said Dr. Torabzadeh.
Google and Apple iPhone
software have added a public transit option when looking up directions to a
location. There are websites like www.Go511.com or mobile apps like Transit
that can help you find your way around traffic or find a carpool in the Los Angeles
area.
Even though it could take
longer to get to work by taking public transportation, Rodriquez thinks having
more rest and energy for work is more important.
"If I found a route I
would consider taking it, a lot more people are using it now a days," said
Rodriguez, who is 33 years old and has not tried public transportation since
receiving his driver license at the age of 17.
He put up with the commute at the time because he needed the job.
"From the economic
downturn a few years ago, it moved some people out of California. Many business
closed and moved to other areas," said Dr. Torabzadeh.
Jim Back, the INRIX
study's author, agrees that a recovery economy correlates with an increasing return
of traffic growth. In a Huffington Post article, he says:
"More people going
back to work mean ... more people are willing to go out and spend money. It
also means merchants are shipping and receiving more products, further adding
to the congestion."
In regards to the future
of Los Angeles's transit infrastructure, resources for land and space are
limited but if we don't act now the challenge will become greater.
"We all have
responsibilities in making our environment cleaner, we are destroying that. With
the industry we have to manage it. We have to have a thinking of living with
our environment and even if that means sacrificing some of the luxuries we
have," said Dr. Torabzadeh.
