“Since 1982, while the US population has

“Since 1982, while the US population has grown nearly 20 percent, the time Americans spend in traffic has jumped an amazing 236 percent. ... The average driver now spends the equivalent of nearly a full work week each year stuck in traffic. That’s not just lost time — it’s real money. Congestion costs Americans $78 billion a year in wasted fuel and lost time — up 39 percent since 1990. Truckers — and the businesses that depend on them — say clogged roads are choking off economic growth and reducing the nation’s competitiveness. Commercial truck travel increased by 37 percent during the 1990s. By 2020, it’s expected to double in most parts of the county.” — Philip J. Longman, “American Gridlock,” US News and World Report.