Auto Club Warns California Headed for Transportation Crisis; Launches ``Quiet Crisis'' Initiative
LOS ANGELES--Oct. 2, 2002--The Automobile Club of Southern California today warned that California is facing a traffic congestion crisis that will have "enormous and unacceptable impacts on its economy and quality of life," if not addressed with comprehensive planning at all levels of government within the next two decades."As traffic congestion increases in California, residents will have increasingly difficult commutes to work, goods and services will be delayed in reaching the marketplace and leisure travel may be restricted," said Thomas V. McKernan, Jr., president and CEO of the Auto Club. "Our current process is not effectively anticipating and addressing this looming transportation crisis.
"For too long we have put off critical transportation decisions and innovative solutions because we are still moving, however slowly. The Auto Club wants to put the issue on the front burner so California doesn't hit a mobility roadblock."
The Auto Club today released "The Quiet Crisis," a report which looks at transportation problems in California and possible solutions. The report makes five key recommendations for dealing with the state's transportation future:
| -- | Southern California must have additional road capacity -- including new roads, increasing the efficiency of current roads and improving maintenance to improve safety and travel time. |
| -- | Improvements must be made in automobile use -- including reducing energy use, continuing to meet clean air goals and using technology to make vehicles safer. |
| -- | Better alternatives to the automobile must be found -- including new and flexible forms of public transit. |
| -- | California needs to improve its decision-making processes for transportation. |
| -- | California needs to get more from its transportation investments and provide more resources for transportation. |
"The Quiet Crisis" report points out that California's congestion rate is 65% higher than the national average and is increasing by 10% annually. In Southern California alone, drivers spend between 50 to 140 hours a year stuck in traffic jams at a cost of up to $2,500 in wasted time and fuel.
"Southern California has four of the top 10 most congested freeway interchanges in the nation," said McKernan, "yet the state ranks last in the nation in per-capita transportation spending. With 10 million more Californians expected to be using highways, streets and public transit over the next two decades, we can't put off planning for the future."
As part of its effort to build a transportation consensus in California, the Auto Club is forming a Mobility Advisory Council. The Auto Club, along with council members, will hold meetings throughout Southern California over the next year to help facilitate ongoing public dialogue and involvement in identifying viable solutions to the state's transportation problems.
"There is no single answer to solving congestion problems," said McKernan. "We hope our recommendations will start much needed dialogue toward building consensus. Creating comprehensive and cohesive transportation policy is a formidable task, but one we believe is achievable and essential."
"The Quiet Crisis" report is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
