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MetroFuture focuses growth in urban communities and developed suburban areas with the infrastructure to support it. Other portions of the region will see slower growth rates than they would under Current Trends and, as a result, slower increases in congestion.

CTPS model results indicate that regionwide average congestion levels (measured in terms of vehicles/roadway capacity, at the TAZ level) would increase slightly from 55.5% in 2000 to 58.7% in 2030 under MetroFuture land use patterns. The increase in congestion would be markedly less than would occur if Current Trends continue (would increase to 59.2%, even with lower overall growth rates than MetroFuture). The improvements would be most significant in the Developing Suburbs, where average congestion levels would be 4% less under MetroFuture than under Current Trends. Assessed at the Traffic Analysis Zone level, 75% of the region’s area would have lower levels of congestion under MetroFuture than under Current Trends.

The MetroFuture land use plan and emphasis on transit and walkability would fully mitigate increased density in suburban growth centers. Suburban employment hubs and town and village centers would see 40% more new housing than they would if Current Trends continue, but would have comparable or lower levels of average congestion. Meanwhile, suburban areas outside of growth centers would experience average congestion 1 – 2% lower than they would if Current Trends continue.

Objectives:

• Traffic congestion (roadway volume/capacity) will not increase by more than 10% across all suburban municipalities.