We're all spending more time in the car
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Driving rates are above pre-pandemic levels in almost every major U.S. metro, and that is especially true for us in the Triangle, a new analysis finds.
Why it matters: The Triangle has struggled to come up with a regional transit model that reliably takes drivers off the road — and with the region's population continuing to swell, drive times are growing, too.
- But bus rapid transit plans for Raleigh and Chapel Hill are moving forward, and a future transit hub in Research Triangle Park recently got key federal funding.
Driving the news: Average daily vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita increased 12.3% across the 100 biggest U.S. metro areas this past spring compared to the same period in 2019.
- That's according to a new report from StreetLight Data, a transportation analytics firm.
- Only 12 metro areas saw a decrease.
Zoom in: In the Triangle, the Raleigh area's average daily vehicle miles increased by 26.6%.
- In the Durham area, they increased by 25.1%.
Between the lines: While higher VMT tends to mean more vehicle-related emissions, it can also be a sign of changes generally perceived as positive, like more economic activity.
- Lower VMT can be a sign of successful public transit or cycling projects — or an indication that lots of people are still working hybrid or remotely.
Yes, but: "GDP now stands above 2019 levels even in the metros where VMT is still down," per StreetLight's report.
- "This is a signal that GDP growth can be decoupled from VMT growth."
The bottom line: "It's not just that [VMT] is back up, but we're actually seeing a bit of an acceleration compared to the previous couple of years," Emily Adler, director of content at StreetLight, tells Axios.
- "So that suggests that we're not peaking, that whatever efforts we've strived for to keep VMT down, they're not quite working — or they're not working yet."