New development equals traffic, right? A major concern about most new development is the impact it will have on traffic and parking. Yet, not all development will automatically increase traffic congestion. By focusing new homes and apartments into areas with good transit, and discouraging automobile use, the impact of more cars on neighborhoods can be minimized.
Understanding the impact. To understand whether a new development will have a serious impact of traffic, think about how people will get to and from the location. If a new subdivision is being built in an empty field near a freeway off ramp, and the nearest grocery store is 2 miles away, then it is likely that most people living there will drive their car every time they need to go somewhere.
On the other hand, if a new condominiums are built in a established urban neighborhood one block from a Metro Rail stop and within walking distance of a multitude of stores, offices and the local school, you can anticipate that many people will use their cars much less — and in some cases not at all.
What can be done to reduce traffic? Most transportation planners agree that increasing road capacity, where possible, will do little to improve traffic congestion in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, traffic congestion is a fact of life in all large cities. However, improving our public transportation and building more homes close to employment centers gives people alternatives to sitting in traffic each day — and it helps the environment too.
