Research Team: PI: Melissa Sather Team:
About this project:
To examine this issue the research team will survey existing literature on road diets and their congestion impacts, analyze before and after LADOT daily traffic volume data for a number of street segments where the city installed road diets and nearby parallel segments where no change was made, and observe current conditions of ten intersections within the selected street segments to assess potential ongoing delay and congestion in the study corridors.
What problem does this research aim to address?
As part of the city’s Vision Zero policy goal put forth by Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2015 to eliminate traffic related deaths on city streets, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has reconfigured a number of stretches of roadway in the city, removing lanes and installing what are commonly known as “road diets.” While numerous studies have shown road diets can greatly reduce the number and severity of collisions, especially for pedestrians and cyclists, the public response to many of the changes implemented in Los Angeles has been quite negative. This negative response has largely centered on claims of large increases in congestion and travel times along the streets where the LADOT has removed lanes.
What are the expected impacts and benefits of the research?
This research will help inform the discussion around the impacts of road diets on traffic congestion and delay in Los Angeles, potentially helping LADOT in its public engagement and marketing campaigns.
Final Report