I know I’m about to cause record gridlock in the Portland Metro area by saying this (jinx!), but I have to say, traffic has been a little light lately.
I should know, I commute 15.6 miles from my home NE Portland to work in Beaverton every day. When I get home at night, I check the handy dandy trip timer on my car to see how long it took me. Tonight was a record at 22 minutes. Last Friday (normally one of the worst days): 28 minutes.
In the last few weeks, less than 30 minutes is becoming more common than the hour it normally takes me.
Is the nearly 11% unemployment to blame? Is traffic lighter because less people are working and on the road?
Frankly, I’d rather wait in traffic than have 1 in 10 people out of work. I like my 30 minutes a day, but I’d gladly give it back.
I never thought I’d say this, but if it means more people are working, here’s to gridlock.
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Yes, I’ve noticed that my commute down I5 is lighter lately as well. I think you’re right: it’s because less people are working and perhaps also because less people are driving around for work as well. Less deliveries, etc. due to the poor economy.
Look on the bright side, it’s not only leading to a nicer commute, but it’s better for the environment as well.
Wait ’til they jack up gas prices again in May. It should thin out even more.
On the public transportation side of things, it has been more and more packed. Just insane the last week or so. I had to wait for several #20s to pass by in the evening last night…
Karma being what it is, I got my payback this morning with a 30 minute wait on 39th and Sandy getting on to I-84 — but it was all construction (down to one lane). Tonight, a new record, 21 minutes.
Also keep in mind various phases of “spring break” are also to blame.
Simple traffic solution for the whole country, stop giving out driver’s licenses for anyone under 21. Period, end of story. Of course, that isn’t possible, but it would fix about 15,000 deaths per year, plus reduce the damage to the environment, AND it would massively fix traffic congestion patterns in many cities.
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