[sustran] AUTOMOBILE DEPENDENCY: TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?

[Todd Litman]

		P R E S S   R E L E A S E
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		      4 January 1999
		  For Immediate Release

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	AUTOMOBILE DEPENDENCY: TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?	
	  Debating the Optimal Level of Automobile Use
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Double Session on the Economic and Social Impacts of Automobile Dependency
Transportation Research Board 1999 Annual Meeting
Monday, January 11, 8 a.m. to 12 noon, Sessions 21 & 58
International East Room, Hilton, Washington DC


DESCRIPTION:
In this century, surface transport systems have become increasingly
automobile dependent (defined as "high levels of per capita automobile
travel, automobile oriented land use patterns, and reduced transport
alternatives"). Recent research challenges the assumption that increased
automobile travel is necessarily good for an economy or society. Beyond a
certain level, automobile dependency may impose more costs than benefits.

This session will explore the socially optimal level of automobile use and
what this implies for transport policy and facility investment. Each
presenter will discuss the following questions:

1. How can we know the optimal level of automobile dependency?

2. What do data indicate about whether particular regions are below, at, or
above this optimum?

3. What does this imply for public policy?


After all presentations, during the Part 2 Session, the panel will discuss
areas of agreement and disagreement, and the audience will also have an
opportunity to raise questions and share comments.


CONTEXT:
This session relates to a growing controversy about the future of
transportation.

Highway advocates support increased construction of roadways, increased
parking requirements, and low automobile user charges. They point out that
motor vehicle travel is growing due to increased population, wealth and
suburban lifestyles, resulting in increased traffic congestion. They argue
that failing to expand roadway and parking capacity, and efforts to
constrain motor vehicle use, contradict consumer preferences, stifle
economic growth, and reduce personal freedom. They cite the general failure
of public transit in the U.S. to attract new riders as evidence that
highways are the most cost effective transportation investment. Highway
advocates often argue that fuel taxes and other motor vehicle user charges
should be dedicated to roadway improvements. 

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) advocates support the development of
a more diverse transport system. They recommend investing in travel
alternatives and using a variety of Transportation Demand Management
strategies, including higher user charges, to curb automobile traffic
growth. They point to the high economic, social and environmental costs
associated with motor vehicle use, and market distortions that result in
excessive automobile travel, as evidence that increased motor vehicle use
is overall harmful to communities. They argue that creating a more
diversified transportation system is the most effective way to address
traffic congestion, meet economic and social needs, support economic
development, and protect the environment. They cite the tendency of
"generated traffic" to fill new highway capacity, and the success of public
transit and bicycle programs in selected communities, as evidence that such
alternatives are the most cost effective transportation investments. TDM
advocates often argue that fuel taxes and other automobile user charges
should be spent on travel alternatives, since motorists benefit indirectly
from such investments, and because motor vehicle use does not pay its full
costs.

This session is intended to get beyond simple arguments about whether
automobiles are "good" or "bad," and explore under what conditions
increased motor vehicle is beneficial, and when it is better to limit
increased traffic and emphasize alternatives. Participants will examine
recent research concerning whether highway investments and low user charges
increase or reduce economic development. They will discuss the implications
of this research in both developed and developing economies. 


MODERATOR

Dr. Susan Handy, Professor of Community and Regional Planning at the
University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Handy has done extensive research on the geographic and demographic
factors that affect individual households' travel behavior, and strategies
that could encourage more diverse transportation patterns.

PRESENTORS:

*  Don Chen 
Title: Social Impacts of Automobile Dependency
Don Chen is Research Manager and Manager of Smart Growth Program for the
Surface Transportation Policy Project, a coalition working to promote
transportation systems that is efficient, environmentally responsible,
equitable, and promotes economic development. 

*  Dr. Kenneth Green
Title: Optimality, Externality, and Things that go Bump in the Night
Dr. Kenneth Green is Director of Environmental Program for the Reason
Public Policy Institute, a research organization promoting policy which
supports personal responsibility in a framework of individual liberty and
limited government. He is author of the report "Defending Automobility: A
Critical Examination of the Environmental and Social Costs of Auto Use,"
and favors innovative, decentralized, and/or market-based measures to
address external impacts of automobile use.

*  Frank Haight
Title: "Pollution, congestion and cost - anything else wrong with cars?"
Frank Haight is Editor of Transportation Research A & B, and has a lifetime
of experience in transportation research and policy analysis.

*  Walter Hook
Title: Road Investments, Economic Growth, and Debt: Lessons from Asia and
Africa
Walter Hook is Director of the Institute for Transportation and Development
Policy, an organization that works to promote sustainable transportation
policies in developing countries. He has worked with governments and
non-profit organizations throughout the world to promote more equitable and
efficient transportation systems.

*  Todd Litman
Title: Automobile Dependency and Economic Development
(Email copy of paper available on requiest from litman at islandnet.com)
Todd Litman is Director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, an
organization dedicated to developing innovative tools for transportation
decision making. Much of his work involves incorporating economic, social
and environmental impacts that are often omitted in transportation
planning. He has worked on numerous studies that examine the full costs and
benefits of various transportation policies and investments.

>From paper abstract: "This paper summarizes recent research indicating that
automobile dependency can reduce regional economic development. This is
consistent with economic theory that any type of consumption experiences
diminishing benefits, and that failures in the transportation market, such
as underpriced driving will lead to inefficient levels of automobile use.
This research indicates that automobile dependency can impose costs on
consumers, society and the economy; reduce transportation choices; and
constrain the availability of capital for industrial investment."

*  Frank Moretti
Director of Research, The Road Information Program (TRIP).
Title: Meeting the Diverse Transportation Needs of the Information Age
Frank Moretti is Director of Research for The Road Information Program
(TRIP), an organization that promotes transportation policies that relieve
traffic congestion, improve air quality, make highway travel safer and
enhance economic productivity. His presentation will discuss the
appropriate level of automobile dependence at a time of increases in
mobility, growing global economic prosperity, increased demand for lower
density living, greater personal mobility and significant improvements in
environmental performance in the transportation sector.

*  Professor Peter Newman
Director, Institute for Science and Technology Policy
Title: The Costs of Automobile Dependency: A Global Survey of Cities
Professor Newman was the first to use the term "Automobile Dependency," and
is co-author of the seminal book on the subject, "Cities and Automobile
Dependency." His presentation will give new numbers on the 'the good, the
bad and the ugly' cities from the most recent global survey data. His
newest book 'Cities and Sustainability', will be launched by Island Press
at the TRB Annual Meeting.


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The Transportation Research Board is a unit of the National Research
Council, which serves the National Academy of Sciences and the National
Academy of Engineering. The TRB Annual Meeting, held each January in
Washington DC, attracts 6,000-8,000 participants representing a wide range
of transportation professionals. For registration information visit:
www.nas.edu/trb/meeting or call 301-694-5243.


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For more information on this session contact:

Todd Litman, Director
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
E-mail:  litman at islandnet.com
Website: www.islandnet.com/~litman