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It’s Time for Californians to Face Up to the Quiet Crisis

It’s Time for Californians to Face Up to the Quiet Crisis

OPINION

by Dan Beal

Southern California has become a victim of its own success.

Its mobility is being challenged by our growing population and expanding economy, by increased travel and by limits on resources. Most of California’s urban roads are congested for increasingly long periods of time and congestion is increasing at a rate of 10 percent annually.

We are facing a future of decreased mobility that we call the “quiet crisis.” The crisis is quiet because most of us travel fairly well today, although with some delay and inconvenience. The transportation system functions well enough for most of us most of the time, for now.

A 1999 state study found a $100 billion backlog of unfunded highway, local road and transit needs over the next decade. Over the next 20 years we can expect 10 million more Californians to be using highways, streets and transit that are inadequate now. We will have to work hard to accommodate this growth and the crisis it will precipitate.

In 2001, California’s road conditions were rated the worst of all 50 states. California drivers spent an average of more than $500 per person on vehicle repairs related to bad road conditions.

Between 1967 and 1997, California’s population increased by 70 percent, the number of licensed drivers by 91 percent and annual vehicle miles driven by 184 percent. In that time, the state’s road capacity grew by only 29 percent.

A newly published report, called “The Quiet Crisis,” cautions that the looming crisis is not something to be dealt with in the future. It’s here now.

Our highways are pitted and pockmarked with holes and uneven pavement due to lack of maintenance. Goods and services are being delayed in reaching the marketplace, adding to their cost.

There are a number of recommendations and ideas in “The Quiet Crisis” starting with the idea that growth is inevitable, but adverse effects of growth on mobility are not.

– The automobile remains the backbone of mobility. It has brought unprecedented access to jobs, education, commerce and recreation. To retain these benefits we need to evaluate the use of the automobile, while implementing technological improvements to increase its safety while continuing to reduce its impact on the environment.

– Public transit is essential and must be strengthened and improved. We need alternatives to the car to reduce congestion and energy use, improve air quality and provide choices.

– Transportation resources must be used wisely to ensure money we already have is being used as efficiently and effectively as possible.

As part of its effort to build a transportation consensus in California, the Auto Club is forming a Mobility Advisory Council, which will include members from San Diego. We are already participating in discussions about the San Diego Association of Government’s Regional Transportation Plan called Mobility 2030. The Auto Club, along with members of its Mobility Advisory Council, will hold meetings throughout Southern California over the next year to help facilitate ongoing public dialogue to identify viable solutions to the state’s transportation problems.

In making noise about the Quiet Crisis now, we are giving all Southern Californians a clear road map of what to expect in the future of transportation. Unless we take action we could congest ourselves into immobility.

Beal is manager of policy and programs for the Automobile Club of Southern California.

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