The Forecast Calls for Gridlock: D.C. Planners Say Transit Investment a Must

As the Washington region’s population and employment grow, traffic congestion will worsen -- but the percentage of all daily trips taken using transit will remain at seven percent through 2040.

That's according to a forecast by transportation planners at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG).

But the “financially constrained” forecast is based on the possibility Congress will not continue to fund Metro’s rehabilitation, maintenance, and expansion beyond 2020, leading transit advocates to label it a technical analysis rather than a vision of what policy makers want for the region.

The long-range transportation forecast combines travel data from three regions: the regional core of D.C., Alexandria, and Arlington; the inner suburbs of Fairfax, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties; and the outer suburbs of Charles, Frederick, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties. ...........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.wnyc.org/story/forecast-calls-gridlock-dc-planners-say-transit-investment-must/