Americans drove 4.9 percent more miles in September 2022 than the did before the pandemic in September 2019, according to data that the Federal Highway Administration has finally posted on its web site. That’s the greatest amount, relative to pre-pandemic levels, of any month since the pandemic began.
Miles of driving in both urban and rural areas were greater than in September 2019 and driving was greater in 35 states. Of the states where driving still has not reached pre-pandemic levels, the biggest shortfalls were Hawaii (-23%), DC (-22%), Rhode Island (-22%), Delaware (-18%), and Pennsylvania (-11%). Driving grew the most in Arizona (33%), Alaska (19%), South Dakota (18%), Florida (14%), North Dakota (14%), Maine (13%), Louisiana (13%), Arkansas (12%), and California (11%). None of these are surprising except California, which was minus 3 percent in August.
In other transportation news, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority finally opened a metro rail line to Dulles Airport this month. This makes it possible for people to take a train from downtown DC to the airport in a mere 53 minutes, whereas before the rail line opened a bus would take 45 minutes and a car can get there in 33 minutes.
As noted above, DC driving in September was 22 percent below September 2019 levels. That’s largely because far fewer people are working downtown than before the pandemic. With fewer people working downtown, the dubious advantages of a rail line between downtown and Dulles Airport are even more questionable.
In today’s WSJ …
Elon Musk’s Boring Company Ghosts Cities Across America
The tunnel venture has repeatedly teased local officials with a pledge to ‘solve soul-destroying traffic,’ only to back out
ONTARIO, Calif.—The unsolicited proposal from Elon Musk’s tunnel-building venture arrived in January 2020. To the local transportation authority, it felt like finding Willy Wonka’s golden ticket.
And it goes on from there …
https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-boring-company-tunnel-traffic-11669658396?st=9id4iraz9jqnt9w&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Elon Musk’s Boring company has traffic jams. I was told it was impossible…..
just a matter of time before a tunnel like this becomes the site of a horrible accident with a bunch people stuck in a narrow tube with no ventilation and a burning battery producing poisonous fumes.