Think you’ve got a traffic nightmare on your hands every morning? Well, how about what’s happened to Boston.
According to the Boston Globe, the region has added 300,000 cars and trucks. And Boston has more than 59,000 single-occupant commuters.
Those numbers and others illustrate just how one major metro area is overrun with traffic. It’s easily the same story, whether you go to New York City, Washington, D.C., and other metro areas.
When you look at Boston’s situation through the eyes of the Globe, you see many of the issues we highlight across the nation every week. Here are some of the findings from a Boston Globe investigation of traffic in the Boston metro area.
Traffic has spiked
During one time, Boston had set goals to reduce the amount of driving being down in the area. However, traffic has increased by about 14 percent from 2005 to 2017.
Politics over congestion pricing
The idea of using congestion pricing to reduce traffic in some areas of Boston has analyzed and discussed. Boston officials released a report that critics say had incorrect data on the success of congestion pricing.
For example, the report did not have the correct information about the size of the congestion zone. Later, London officials, who have seen success with congestion pricing, said the report portrayed the city inaccurately.
London says vehicle traffic into congested areas has fallen by 30 percent, and the changes have allowed for increased space for pedestrians, bus riders, cyclists, and others.
Why has Traffic Congestion Dropped in Seattle?
Free and cheap parking can hurt transit benefits
The Globe found that employers can have a significant impact on how workers commute. However, a commuter benefits package that features transit might not lead to an increase in transit commuters.
If you are an employer thinking about commuter benefits, know that you can offer an enticing package that allows people to take public transit, rideshares (Uber and Lyft), or use qualified parking.
With commuter benefits, your employees can save up to $265 per month in their paychecks tax-free and save up to 40 percent on commuting costs.
For more information, download the guide below:
