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San Diego traffic report with the latest San Diego traffic conditions
San Diego traffic
Like the rest of Southern California, the automobile is the most popular way to travel around San Diego. So, it shouldn't be a big surprise that San Diego traffic can get pretty crowded during the peak commute! Our highway system has more than 300 miles of freeways and about 7,150 miles of streets and roads. San Diego traffic reports indicate that more than 68 million vehicle miles are traveled daily in the region, with an average vehicle trip length of 5.8 miles.
More facts on traffic in San Diego
With a population of about 3,000,000 people, the San Diego area has two miles of roads per thousand people - about the same ratio as Los Angeles. The total freeway lane miles is about 1,875 with average daily San Diego traffic per freeway mile of 20,027 - about the same as San Francisco.
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San Diego traffic conditions
San Diego traffic reports show that we spend an average of about 54 hours a year sitting in rush hour traffic - 20 percent more than just two years ago. However, compared with other large cities, the traffic in San Diego moves along pretty well. In a recent study of traffic congestion in urban areas, San Diego ranked 11th out of the 39 major metropolitan areas for annual hours of delay, performing better than Atlanta, Chicago, San Jose, Houston and Los Angeles.
How to avoid San Diego traffic congestion
With all the San Diego County highways and major arteries, you can always find optional routes to reach your destination. The best way to get the upper hand on traffic congestion is to view this San Diego traffic report before you get into your automobile. Here you can see the latest San Diego traffic conditions, the average speed of traffic on your route, the location of traffic congestion and accidents, as well as the average traffic speed on possible alternate routes.
Live close to where you work
San Diego traffic reports show our morning commute is getting more hectic. So, I always encourage my clients to buy a home near where they work. There are many fine neighborhoods throughout San Diego County and downtown is a bustling, thriving place to live. With the average cost of driving an automobile at .50 per mile, it may be wise to spend more for a home that's located near your work - not to mention the value of your time and peace of mind! Search the San Diego MLS to find a home closer to your employment.
Remember public transportation
If you live near the coast, the San Diego Coaster is a fantastic alternative to sitting in San Diego traffic on I-5. With convenient stops from downtown to the far northern reaches of our county, you'll enjoy breathtaking ocean and canyon views while working on your laptop computer or conducting business on your cell phone. The coaster is a popular alternative to driving for thousands of San Diegans. Ride the Coaster and you'll never have to worry about San Diego traffic reports, again!
The San Diego Trolley is worth checking out if you travel around downtown San Diego and/or to and from the East County communities including SDSU. Expansion of the San Diego Trolley from Old Town to the UCSD campus and the UTC Shopping Center is in the planning stage. The Amtrak system offers 12 daily trips between San Diego and Los Angeles. Also, it's another great alternative to driving from the coastal cities to downtown San Diego on the weekend. Plus, the SPRINTER will be completed in December 2007 connecting Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido. This new mass transit rail line will run 22 miles along the Highway 78 corridor, offering service with 64 trains per day to 15 convenient stations including Palomar College.
Improving traffic in San Diego
Fortunately, SANDAG, a regional planning group is working with local, state and national agencies to improve San Diego traffic conditions. They manage the TransNet money, the half-cent sales tax dedicated to regional transportation improvements. Between 1988 and 2008, $3.3 billion will be generated and an additional $14 billion will be created from 2008 to 2048. Highway list outlines new highway construction projects that will help ease San Diego traffic congestion. Highway map gives an interactive view of how new highways, roads and mass transit will improve San Diego traffic reports in the future.
New roads are not always the answer!
As promising as it is to think about new and wider highways, that may not be the best answer to San Diego's traffic problems. Studies indicate that widening highways is only a temporary solution to the complex problem of traffic congestion. That's because new roads fill up soon after they open. A recent traffic report by U. C. Berkeley concluded that 90 percent of new highway capacity added to California's metropolitan areas is filled within four years, and 60 to 70 percent of all new county highways are filled within two years of completion.
The phenomenon known as "induced traffic," means that new and wider highways actually create additional traffic above and beyond what can be attributed to population increases and economic growth. Reports estimate that two-thirds of the growth in San Diego traffic in the coming decades, will be attributable to "induced" demand.
Build a highway and they will come
Studies of "Induced traffic" show that when additional roadway space is made available through highway widening or new road construction, drivers often abandon car pools and public transit. This creates additional trips and more San Diego traffic. Also, the more convenient access to expanded transportation routes encourages commuters to live further from work, fueling even more traffic demand. We've seen this most dramatically in the commute to downtown San Diego from Temecula on the I-15 and from Oceanside on the I-5.
What else causes San Diego traffic congestion?
San Diego is one of the least affordable housing markets in the country, forcing people to move further out to find a place to live. The lack of affordable and mixed-income housing near job centers and the imbalance between jobs and housing, creates the notorious San Diego traffic reports of hour-long-plus commutes between places like Temecula and downtown San Diego.
Changes in San Diego school traffic patterns
In the 1950's more than half of San Diego school children walked or bicycled to school. That number has fallen below 10 percent as streets have become wider and more dangerous. This trend combined with the loss of school bus service, has resulted in an overwhelming increase in parents driving their children to and from school. San Diego traffic reports estimate that 20 to 25 percent of rush hour traffic on local streets is now attributable to the school commute.
Cell phones slow San Diego traffic
Motorists talking on cell phones, even hands-free devices, crawl about 2 mph slower than drivers not on the phone. If you commute in San Diego traffic for an hour per day, this can add about 20 hours per year to your drive time. The National Academy of Sciences study found that drivers on cell phones tend to get behind slow drivers and they change lanes 20 percent less than drivers not on the phone. Overall, cell phone drivers take about 3 percent longer to drive the same San Diego traffic-clogged route. Since as many as one in 10 drivers are on the phone, it can really add up.
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