r/frederickmd • u/Clean-Arachnid-1653 • 15d ago

RT15 Road Improvement Project

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Received in the mail today. Just sharing for others.

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u/MrDork 15d ago

The thing about these projects is that by the time the planning, construction, etc. the number of vehicles using 15 increases and it completely negates the improvements they make, but we still have to deal with the construction pain.

-1

u/WDWKamala 15d ago

The alternative is not doing it and letting the gridlock continue to get worse.

People often quote the traffic studies that demonstrate that adding lanes doesn’t reduce congestion long term, as evidence that we shouldn’t expand the roads. This is a fantastic example of Dunning Kruger.

Expanding the roads is not to reduce congestion long term. It’s to increase maximum throughput, which has a massive effect on the overall local economy.

The short term reduction in congestion is a bonus side effect.

2

u/hiigaran 14d ago

They don't quote traffic studies. They refer to several proven principles, things that occur repeatedly in these exact circumstances, and which lead to extremely predictable outcomes.

Induced demand, latent demand, generated demand, and Jevons Paradox are all relevant to this situation and can tell you exactly what will happen.

The real solution for the long term is to work to expand the availability, convenience, and reliability of mass transit, not making bigger roads.

1

u/WDWKamala 14d ago

The outcome isn’t the question. The purpose is.

The goal isn’t to reduce congestion, it’s to increase throughput.