Traffic Congestion in Houston Presented by Bill King www.billkinghouston.com
The Travel Time Index Defined 1.36 30 Minute Trip = 41 Minute Trip (+ 36%)
The History of Congestion in Houston Growing Congestion Problem In Houston 1.40 6.0 Texas Travel Index 1.35 1.30 1.25 1.20 1.15 1.10 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 Population in Millions 1.05 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 3.0 Travel Congestion Index Area Population Congestion data taken from the Texas Transportation Institute 2007 Urban Mobility Study Population Data Taken from the Texas State Library and Archive Commission (1982-1999) and the Texas State Data Center (2000-2005)
Houston Congestion Now Worse Than Other Major U.S. Cities 60 50 40 30 Other Houston 20 10 0 1982 1995 2005 Data taken from the Texas Transportation Institute 2007 Urban Mobility Study
Congestion Expected to Get Worse in Houston Under Most Scenarios 4.00 3.50 3.00 No Build Existing Funding Sources Exisitng Funding Sources, Tollway Financing and Pass Through Financing 3.47 2.50 TCI Value 2.00 1.50 1.84 1.67 1.00 0.50 0.00 2003 2030 Graphic taken from the Houston-Galveston Area Council 2006 Texas Metropolitan Mobility Plan
The Cost of Houston Congestion (Annually) Time = 124 Million hours 56 hours per Commuter Fuel = 92 Million gallons $250 Million $125 Per Commuter Increased Emissions 874,000 Tons of CO 2 Additional Cost of Vehicle Maintenance =??? Data taken from the Texas Transportation Institute 2007 Urban Mobility Study.
Fundamental Congestion Equation Demand Limit growth/change development patterns Transit alternatives Telecommuting Flex Hours Supply Build more lane miles Increase the efficiency Incident Management (Safe Clear, MAP) Ramp/Intersection Improvements/Grade Separations Smart Streets-ITS
Houston Density Limits Effectiveness of Transit The Impact of Density on Modal Volume 100.00% 90.00% Transportation Mode Percentage 80.00% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% 3,750-5,000 2,500-3,750 1,250-2,500 0-1,250 5000-7,500 7,500-10,000 25,000-999,000 20,000-25,000 15,000-20,000 12,500-15,000 10,000-12,500 Population per Square Mile Transit Private Vehicles Modality Info per 2006 Transportation Research Board s Commuting in America Density Data per 2000 Census per U.S. Census Bureau
Daily Trips by Type - 2007 Home to Work Home to Other (School, Store, etc.) Other - Not Home Based Work Related Misc. (Taxi, Transient) Total Daily Trips 3,560,000 9,540,000 2,050,000 3,400,000 1,330,000 19,880,000 18% 48% 10% 17% 7% *Source HGAC Model Harris and surrounding counties
Sources of Roadway Funds Local Property Taxes Sales Taxes (METRO) Tolls (HCTRA) State\Federal Vehicle Registration Fees ($500MM) Federal Fuel Tax 18.4 /gal. $2.5 Billion State Fuel Tax 20 /gal. (5 to Education) $2.2 billion
Your Share of the Gas Tax Drive 15,000 miles per year @ 15mpg Use 1,000 gallons of gas @ 38.4 per gallon Annual Cost = $384
State/Federal Highway Funds (2007) Total fuel tax, license & misc. receipts Total borrowing Total Resources Maintenance Expenses New Design & Construction 5.7 Billion 3.0 Billion 8.7 Billion 4.7 Billion 4.1 Billion
Decreasing Investment in Roads Statewide Motor Fuel Taxes Discounted for the Effects of Inflation and Population Growth $3,100,000,000 $3,100,000,000 $2,900,000,000 $2,900,000,000 $2,700,000,000 $2,700,000,000 $2,500,000,000 $2,500,000,000 $2,300,000,000 $2,300,000,000 $2,100,000,000 $2,100,000,000 $1,900,000,000 $1,900,000,000 $1,700,000,000 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 $1,700,000,000 Gross Motor Fuel Taxes Motor Fuel Taxes Discounted for Inflation and Population Growth Revenue data per Texas Comptroller. Census data per U.S. Census Bureau. Inflation Data per Consumer Price Index.
Growing Congestion Problem In Houston 1.40 6.0 Texas Travel Index 1.35 1.30 1.25 1.20 1.15 1.10 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 Population in Millions 1.05 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 3.0 The History of Congestion vs. Real Investment to Roadways Travel Congestion Index Area Population Motor Fuel Taxes Discounted for the Effects of Inflation and Population Growth $3,100,000,000 $2,900,000,000 $2,700,000,000 $2,500,000,000 $2,300,000,000 $2,100,000,000 $1,900,000,000 $1,700,000,000 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 $3,100,000,000 $2,900,000,000 $2,700,000,000 $2,500,000,000 $2,300,000,000 $2,100,000,000 $1,900,000,000 $1,700,000,000 Gross Motor Fuel Taxes Motor Fuel Taxes Discounted for Inflation and Population Growth Congestion data taken from the Texas Transportation Institute 2007 Urban Mobility Study Population Data Taken from the Texas State Library and Archive Commission (1982-1999) and the Texas State Data Center (2000-2005)
Lost in Washington Federal government only returns 78% of motor fuels tax collected in Texas Source: Texas Department of Transportation: Forward Momentum, February, 2007
Lost in Austin $1,300,000,000 Shortfall in Last 10 Years 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 26.5% 22.4% 21.5% 13.3% 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Houston %-age of State Population Houston %-age of TxDOT Funding Houston Population as a %-age of state population averaged 22.1% for the 10 year period shown In that same time period, TxDOT funding to the Houston Region averaged 16.7% of all state funding Data from TxDOT s annual DISCO publications.
Houston s Donation to Other States and Other Texas Cities Donated to Other States Donated to Other Regions in Texas Total Donated by Houstonians $100 Million $135 Million $235 Million Annually
Houston Region s Vehicle Collision Facts 84,080 serious crashes 627 fatalities 93,971 persons injured Likelihood of a fatal or injury crash was: 36% higher than statewide average 149% higher than national average Data compiled by HGAC. 1999-2001
Percent of Congestion Caused by Incidents (Collisions & Breakdowns) Houston = 50% Data taken from the Texas Transportation Institute 2007 Urban Mobility Study
Causes of Collisions (Fatal/Injury crashes only) Speeding Failing to yield Failing to stop Running red light DUI/DWI Following too close Improper turn Houston Region 39% 20% 11% 8% 7% 3% 2% U.S. Average 13% 19% 9% 5% 7% 2% 2% National Safety Council, 1999.
Major Crash Hot Spots in Central Houston: 1998-2000 Location of Hot Spots with 78 or More Crashes Hot spots: 78+ crashes Freeway Water Arterial Counties N W E S 0 5 10 Miles
High Risk Locations on Kirby Drive: 1998 to 2000 Crashes Per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled Westheimer Rd W Alabama St US 59 Bissonnet St SH 288 Kirby Dr IH 610 W Holcombe Blvd Crash risk Low Freeways Kirby Dr Arterials Street Main St Old Spanish Trail High IH 610 N W S 0 1 2 3 Miles E
Cost & Benefits from Hot Spot Mitigation Type of Project Number Crashes Estimated One-Time Cost Estimated Annual Benefit Freeway segments 150 7,766 $75 million $58 million Intersections 70 3,756 $35 million $28 million Arterial segments 124 4,930 $62 million $37 million Total $172 million $123 million
HGAC/TTI Estimates Cost of Congestion in Houston Region $2.3 Billion Cost of Crashes $4.0 Billion Total Cost $6.3 Billion
Some Ways to Tackle Congestion Address crash rate Intersection improvements Safety based enforcement efforts Truck rollovers Improved construction administration San Felipe Incentive payments for finishing early
Some Ways to Tackle Congestion Improved Incident Management Pay for all tows Coop programs with County & small cities At grade railroad crossings 1200 crossing (fixing just 55 - $800 million)
Some Ways to Tackle Congestion Improvements to HOV Lanes Restrooms Better parking More buses Extend lanes Sales Tax Only Transit??
What is necessary? Send a clear signal to our elected officials that relieving traffic congestion is our priority
Portland 1999 Regional Transportation Plan Increased congestion will signal positive urban development... Transportation solutions aimed solely at relieving congestion are inappropriate.
What is necessary? Send a clear signal to our elected officials that relieving traffic congestion is our priority Make investments that have the highest cost benefit ratio for reducing congestion
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