Traffic Congestion Set To Triple By 2035

Traffic is almost set to triple itself by 2035, according to data released by the 2010 Annual Report on Traffic Congestion in the Denver Region.

The report says that each vehicle on the road averages an extra 38 hours per year of commuting time because of congestion and that 19 percent of freeway lane miles are backed up for over three hours a day. According to the data compiled by the non-profit and non-governmental organization, it is also projected that this will increase to nearly half of all major lane miles by 2035.

From the report:

The vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per day increased substantially between 2000 and 2006, but only increase by about one million between 2006 and 2010. This stagnation in vehicle travel is mainly attributed to the economic recession which began in late 2007 and the slow economic recovery. Vehicle travel is expected to increase at a higher rate in the future as the region's population and employment increase and the economy strengthens.

"Congestion is worse in areas of every size--it's not just a big city problem," reads a separate traffic report--the Urban Mobility report--with similar findings.

For the cities with populations between one and three million, the Urban Mobility Report listed the Denver-Aurora region as the second worst in traffic congestion, among cities like Orlando, San Antonio, and New Orleans.

Last month the 10-mile Jefferson Parkway toll highway was given the green light to connect Colorado 128 with Golden after making a deal to purchase Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge as an open space area. The road is hoped to help clear up some of the congestion, and to finally complete the Denver-metro beltway.

The toll road is set to cost over $813 million to complete.