Why urban freeway expansion is futile

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adding more urban interstate capacity will just mean more people will use the interstate so it will still be congested, choke point are the real problem (I-10 bridge in BR) not number of lanes, building more high capacity local streets might help, and our traffic models kinda suck for urban areas:

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We know.

Sincerely,

Every Logical Resident of Baton Rouge

That's not always the case. I'd love to see someone argue to make 75 through Dallas 2 lanes. It's packed 24/7 and during peak hours, so is every other major north south road in the city.

There are actually 2 things going on to make this "law" of traffic/urban planning true - that traffic will expand to fill available lanes.

First is - as you suggest. The more attractive the "high speed" direct route is, the more cars will utilize it - this will occur until equilibrium is reached. Traffic systems can only really process the volume and rate of its chokepoints - typically interchanges or intersections. Once equilibrium is reached - at least for that system, drivers close enough will utilize surface streets and other routes that are "just as fast" - so that will extend the range of your traffic system, folks can live further away, but congestion and all the problems associated with it will get, somewhat ironically, worse. Certainly will be no better.

The second is - these high speed routes draw businesses to develop alongside/near them because those businesses want to be near that traffic. Theses businesses draw additional traffic, themselves, thus compounding the problems.

Oh look, a NOLA poster telling Baton Rouge that it doesn't need transportation funding.

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Why urban freeway expansion is futile

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Except that it will increase capacity, allowing more people and freight to pass by. Even if if it returns to a state of congestion, more traffic will flow through that section than today. More freight, more commuters, more of everything.

The I-10 freeway section in Baton Rouge also hasn't been updated since it was built 60 years ago. Most places lack shoulders, decent lighting, and the guard rails are falling apart.

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choke point are the real problem (I-10 bridge in BR)

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The choke point is not the bridge deck itself, it is the narrowed section at the I-10/I-110 split where I-10 narrows to a single lane in a sharp curve with inadequate shoulders, barriers, and lighting. This also occurs where drivers also have to negotiate traffic crossing two lanes to exit at Washington Street.

If you want to talk about traffic solutions in Baton Rouge, at least pretend to be informed about where the issues are.

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The I-10 freeway section in Baton Rouge also hasn't been updated since it was built 60 years ago. Most places lack shoulders, decent lighting, and the guard rails are falling apart.

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That would benefit from a reconstruction more than an expansion.

That's dumb, more lanes will always help. Sometimes when you dig yourself into a hole, you just have to dig yourself out.

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That would benefit from a reconstruction more than an expansion.

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Yeah, but there is no getting around the need for additional capacity this particular stretch of I-10.

The decking of I-10 must be expanded between the I-110 split and College drive. One additional lane is needed so that I-10 doesn't narrow down to a single lane and isn't required to merge with rush hour traffic on I-10.

In addition, the geometry of the I-10/I-110 split curve needs to be improved, the alignment of the lanes themselves have to be modernized, and the Washington Street exit must be relocated. None of this is going to be cheap, and none of it is going to be quick.

I agree that there is a vast amount of arteries like Airline, Highway 30, and 190 that must be expanded (and preferably before I-10 and I-12 are expanded in the same areas).....but there is no getting around the need to expand and significantly improve the biggest choke point in the entire state. Not even a loop will change the fact that the section of I-10 between College and I-110 has to be expanded in Baton Rouge.

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adding more urban interstate capacity will just mean more people will use the interstate

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Yeah there's no point in expanding roads. If you add more lanes people are just gonna drive on them. Keep the roads narrow and maybe people will stay home.

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Fixing the I-10/I-110/bridge connection would be awesome, but it wouldn't magically solve all BR traffic issues.

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It won't solve all of them, but it is absolutely critical for that the capacity constraints and alignment of I-10 between College and I-110 is addressed. That's going to be regardless of any and all local enhancements.

There are 6 total westbound lanes between I-10 and I-12 feeding into the College/I-10 area that jams into a narrow 3 lane eastbound section.

Same with I-10 east bound, which narrows to a single lane and is required to merge into I-110 traffic. There, we have 5 lanes of flow moving onto narrow east bound lanes with undulating pavement, poor alignment, and no shoulders.

The proposed expansion includes adding one additional lane in both directions, improving the alignment, building sound walls, adding shoulders, and a threaded interchange between I-110 and Dalrymple. It is (by a long shot) the most needed highway improvement project in the state.

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Quite the opposite, I 100% support DEDICATED transportation funding for the right projects. Fixing the I-10/I-110/bridge connection would be awesome, but it wouldn't magically solve all BR traffic issues.

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Imagine what could have been done with the money spent on the bridge to nowhere near St. Francisville