Mobility

The transportation system of the future will build on the foundation of the past 20 years. Improvements to the Valley’s freeway system have been a major transportation success story. In 1985, voters approved a one-half cent sales tax for transportation in the region. Since 1985, the miles of new freeways in the region have more than doubled to 95 miles, and a total of 147 miles will be completed by the year 2007.

However, even with nearly 150 new miles of freeway, the increased travel projected in the region will take its toll. A MAG congestion study finds that the number of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) is anticipated to nearly triple on major streets, and freeway VMT is projected to increase by almost two-thirds over existing levels.

To address this issue the Regional Transportation Plan includes many alternatives besides additional lane miles; the use of many types of transportation modes is called multi-modal transportation.