By Austin Wright
While rush-hour congestion and tunnel backups remain a way of life in Hampton Roads, state traffic counters say the volume of traffic has declined this year.
Traffic in the region dropped 3.1 percent in the first half of 2008 compared with the first half of 2007, a rare trend that local experts attribute to rising gas prices.
The decline was most pronounced in recent months, when gasoline prices hit record highs. Preliminary June statistics show traffic down 4.2 percent from last June, the steepest drop.
Every year, the volume of traffic tends to increase each month as the weather gets warmer. The same trend occurred in 2008, but this year each month's traffic count is smaller than the same month in 2007.
The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission compiled the numbers by counting vehicles at 56 traffic monitoring sensors throughout the region. The sensors counted 293 million vehicle s in the first five months of 2008, down 8.8 million from the first five months of 2007.
"The cost of fuel has gone up, and people are trying to reduce their number of trips," said Camelia Ravanbakht, the commission's principal transportation engineer.
Though long-term statistics weren't available, Ravanbakht said, since the commission started doing this type of traffic analysis in 2000, there's been only one other significant traffic decline in Hampton Roads: a quick drop in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina.
She said local traffic typically increases each year by about 2 percent.
"I've seen less traffic recently," said Jason Johnson, who commutes from his home in Norfolk to his job in Portsmouth. "I get home quicker from work by about 20 to 30 minutes."
Not everyone notices the change.
Bill Mick, a retired senior chief in the military who was in downtown Norfolk's MacArthur Center mall on Wednesday, said he thinks few people have altered their habits because of rising gas prices.
"I clean houses in the Outer Banks, and I have not, in any way possible, seen any decline in traffic," said Mick, who was one of nine Hampton Roads residents interviewed this week about their driving habits.
"I think it's probably a good thing," said Darryl Stubbs, who's lived in Virginia Beach about 30 years. "People are starting to conserve."
The largest decline was detected by a sensor on Interstate 564 North between International Terminal Boulevard and Hampton Boulevard, where there was 7.1 percent less traffic from January through June 2008 than in the same period last year. Twenty-one locations showed decreases of 4 percent or more - five are on I-64.
Only a handful of the 56 sensors recorded increases from last year. They include: Independence Boulevard near Pembroke Boulevard, Oceana Boulevard near Virginia Beach Boulevard - both in Virginia Beach - and the Midtown Tunnel in Norfolk.
Nationally, Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April 2008 than in April 2007, according to a report by the Federal Highway Administration. The report says national road travel fell 2.1 percent in the first four months of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, the first drop in more than 30 years.
"This is the sharpest decline in driving that Americans have ever seen in such a short period of time," said Doug Hecox, spokesman for the administration. "There's a phenomenon going on that needs to be addressed."
A downside to less driving is that the Highway Trust Fund's revenue declines because the fund collects an 18.4-cent tax for every gallon of gas sold. Maintenance needs are growing as roads age, Hecox said, but maintenance funds are dropping as gas prices rise and people buy less.
Gas consumption fell 0.4 percent nationwide this January compared to last January, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
Virginians consumed more than 300 million gallons of gasoline in January - the most recent month with available data - but 1.2 percent less than in January 2007, according to the federal agency.
"Without doing some research, we can only assume that the gas prices are limiting people's ability to get around," said Harry Kenyon, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The traffic sensors that measure Hampton Roads driving habits are managed by VDOT, which sends the information to the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission for analysis.
The sensors, placed along major interstates, roads and intersections, include wires under the road, radars fixed to poles and sound detectors that typically are placed on interstate ramps.
Austin Wright, (757) 446-2667, austin.wright@pilotonline.com
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Not absurd at all
"(Liberals) They are happy that families are suffering due to skyrocketing gas prices!"
That's totally obsurd.
Not absurd at all. Liberals, like their socialist, national socialist and communist cousins in Europe can only succeed among political/economic turmoil and cultural misery. That's why they love taxes, big government regulations, setting murderers and child molesters free and surrendering to our enemies around the world.
reid
"(Liberals) They are happy that families are suffering due to skyrocketing gas prices!"
That's totally obsurd.
The contrast between the oil
The contrast between the oil prices now and the oil prices in the 70's is the lack of an embargo on said oil. We're still pulling in about 13 million barrels a day as opposed to the low point of 63 million in a month back then.
Point is, we don't need more oil, we need a stronger dollar.
This isn't about Republicans and Democrats (though why our multi-party system seems more like a two-party system, I'll never understand. Sucks to be the little guys). It is about a recession in the economy, hence the economic stimulus plan, which I figure was mostly spent on fuel anyway. The country is changing and evolving.
I suppose the question would be how do we make a stronger dollar?
Funny thread
Reid, I love you man but you have to snap out of the funk. Your ideas are antiquated. Your from a generation that will soon be forgotten. Things are changing and it looks like they are speeding up. The way of life you have known will not return regardless of where they drill. I am dissapointed w/ the boring tactic of calling those who do not share your views a liberals.
"Anyone that thinks gas prices are ever going down is living in fantasy land. The days of cheap gas are over." A simple and true statement.
"I really don't think Clinton wants to take the blame for the days rampant stock market fraud, rolling blackouts in CA, and the Internet bubble. Party sheep really have poor memories."
Man, when did the president become responsible for every single thng that occurs in a country? I think I see where the real problem lies. You expect the president to be where the bucks stops and lead you but insult those
dr87448
Yep, that is their motto. Said off camera and away from microphones of course. Besides, their actions speak FAR LOUDER than their words.
Liberal Elites know how everyone else should live
Don't you love the condescension and Elitist glee from the angry leftist socialists? They are happy that families are suffering due to skyrocketing gas prices! Here you have it friends, the nanny state Leftists can’t wait to force “the masses” living in the suburbs into their utopian URBAN lifestyle. Of course it is a dirty, crime ridden URBAN nightmare, but don’t let the truth interrupt their fantasy. Please read this post again (Submitted by davidj37901) – he arrogantly writes: “I hope gas goes to $10.00 a gallon. And we all ride bikes. It would be good for your health, and there would be less heart disease and fat people. Steel cages are not the future of transportation people, so get a clue. Anyone that thinks gas prices are ever going down is living in fantasy land. The days of cheap gas are over.” And Liberals are LOVING it!
Algae to the rescue
Algae farms can produce 10,000 gallons of ethanol per acre compared to 50 gallons per acre for corn. We could produce enough fuel this way to rid ourselves of our dependence on foreign oil. Time for a change.
Demonrats?
Their Motto??
"You Make It, We take It!!""
Short term memory?
Man I wish we could put Bill back in office, we were never in better shape as when he was in charge. Thank God Chimpy will be gone soon with his necon cronies. Can't wait till the fry ol blow toad either.
I really don't think Clinton wants to take the blame for the days rampant stock market fraud, rolling blackouts in CA, and the Internet bubble. Party sheep really have poor memories.
This is great!
Keep raising the price of gas...I love it, less cars to deal with on the road. Sorry, for those who can't afford it, but maybe you'll have to give up your gas guzzling SUVs and Trucks and drive sensible cars. This is great! Keep raising that price!
what to do
So what should we do first, have the oil company drill for oil or have the oil company build the refineries, but wait not in our back yard. Another thing who will control these refineries the oil company that close them when it's time to make more money?
Too much...
Is this really news? Hmmm...if the price of bread doubles in 2 years, would you not naturally expect that people would buy less bread? The government has little control over this but the impediment of usage of our own resources in the name of environazism. Get real about "punishing" those oil barons. Any attempt will only cost the consumer more as all liabilities are passed down to the consumer. To be honest, it only takes less supply, by the oil companies, to drive the price up even further to make up for less comsumption if it comes to that. The funny part is those that advocate more taxes on a gallon of gas to finance more roads or port projects. This is the same as more tax on cigarettes to fund health care, which by the way is a reality.
RE: Why doesn't Kaine/liberals
I guess we can thank the do nothing Republicans for their decision to do nothing to fix our transportation and congestion needs. Way to go! Dumb and dumber couldn't have done any better.
Just noticed something..
Speaking of corrections... Why did the Pilot pick a picture of a packed highway for a story about less traffic? Shouldn't have been a deserted road? Maybe with a tumple weed or two blowing across it? Just a thought.
Correction
In the example of the Pilot, let correct my grammar. Heading should have read; "RE: MAN I WISH WE COULD PUT BILL BACK IN". Because, we all know that grammar was the most important part of this story.
Re: Man I wish we could Bill back in
Yeah, Bubba could just open his mouth, and ther'ed be gas a plenty.
Here's another reason
How about people, like my family and I, that left Hampton Roads (we moved 500 miles away) forever??
We left, as did our neighbors, for more reasons that I can count (traffic and roads were only a few of the reasons).
I read pilot online whenever I need to confirm that our decision was a good one.
Nothing of substance will change.
The government, BOTH Democrats and Republicans, hasn't done a damned thing to alleviate the energy problems that we've had since the middle seventies, when we had a gas shortage, odd and even gas days, etc. In fact, we're even more dependent on imported oil. Consider this: Our imports of foreign oil have gone from 35 percent of total U.S. oil consumption in 1973 to 60 percent of total U.S. oil consumption in 2006, according to the EIA.
Our buying habits haven't helped the situation: while light trucks and SUVs accounted for 19 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States in 1975, the percentage grew to 50 percent by 2005. Thanks, soccer moms!
The government is at the beck and call of the Oil and Auto industries, plain and simple. Now, we're paying for thirty years of doing nothing. Enjoy your Hummers and Expeditions, and vote for the party of your choice, because, in the end, nothing of substance will change.
Doh!
Those costs are based on driving the vehicle 100,000 miles.
Rules to Shop By
At $4.00 per gallon, a vehicle getting an average 12 mpg will cost $33,334 in gas alone, 15mpg $26,667, 20 mpg $20,000, 25 mpg $16,000, 30 mpg $13,333, 35mpg $11,429. Gas cost falls when hybrid power is mixed in. The rural areas of Virginia sell 100% pure gas, no MTBE or ethanol added. Ethanol gets 10% less mileage as a fuel and produces more smog than pure gasoline. Perhaps higher fuel prices and lower driven miles will reduce summer gasoline requirements by the EPA. Prices of ethanol plummets and corn plummets. By the way, the DOE, who knows why they even exist at all. A lingering tax and spend monument to the Jimmy Carter Presidency since 1977. Perhaps OPEC could use the building instead. They end $4.00 per gallon gas and we end $4.00 per pound ground beef. How much is a pound of gas? How much is a gallon of ground beef?
Wow.
Some pretty bold statements by some. I for one cannot believe some have the nerve to blame the democratic led congress when they hold such a slim margin that there is no hope of them passing anything useful until the chicken hawk republicans are completely overridden by the democrats. There is no way to advance the causes of the Democrats with Republicans blockading them every step of the way. I do not agree that drilling is going to solve the problem. I think greed and dysfunction have gotten a hold of this country and we will never go back to the way things were. Spare me party loyalty. It shows ignorance when people blindly hold faith to any political party without reason. I believe that the government way of thinking is flawed. I hold to neither party but to common sense. Something this country is seriously lacking
Bad grammar
That blatantly ungrammatical headline ("There's fewer cars ... ") hit me in the face as soon as I opened the home page ... and there it was on the story, too. I often wonder why these egregious grammar goofs are rarely or never corrected, even after readers have pointed them out, as Dawn did in this case 24 hours ago. They just sit there for thousands to see and once again roll their eyes about the Pilot's English skills.
Why does Kaine want us to have less money?
I hardly notice the decline myself. I know that with the increase in the cost of gasoline that I have less money in my pocket each week. I do notice that the costs of goods has increased right along with the price of fuel though. I have noticed that liberals don't want to increase the supply of domestic crude oil production, build refineries and therefore help reduce the cost of gas. I have noticed that Kaine had a $500,000,000 "surplus" not too long ago and now it's gone. I have noticed that he wanted to raise taxes again. I have noticed that the liberals in Norfolk don't want to reduce the property tax rate. I have noticed it is okay for me to have less money in my pocket but it isn't for Kain/liberals to have less in the their coffers.
fewer cars on the road because of gas prices
If you want to get people off the road, we need to come up with a way to keep drivers of the roads who have suspended licenses. This should keep about 20% of the drivers off the road.
I hope gas goes to $10.00 a gallon. .
And we all ride bikes. It would be good for your health, and there would be less heart disease and fat people. Steel cages are not the future of transportation people, so get a clue. Anyone that thinks gas prices are ever going down is living in fantasy land. The days of cheap gas are over.
michele s.
You obviously need to do some research on the ownership of corporate stock before you make any further erroneous statements. In that you mentioned the, "oil barons," let's discuss Exxon-Mobile stock. You obviously don't know that the top 20 owners of Exxon-Mobile stock are institutional investors, such as Bank of America, and mutual funds. The company which owns the LEAST number of shares of those top 20, owns 10 million shares of stock. Conversely, the individual owning the greatest number of shares owns 914,000 shares. That's nothing to sneeze at, but a paltry amount compared to the 268 million shares held by the top 10 mutual funds. Who do you think owns mutual funds, Michele? A lot of average, middle class folks who put a few bucks every payday into a fund which buys stock, probably some of it is Exxon-Mobile.
Pretty funny
Submitted by michaels96132 on Sat, 07/12/2008 at 2:54 am.
The english usage in this town is sub-par.
Um...
"A downside to less driving is that the Highway Trust Fund's revenue declines because the fund collects an 18.4-cent tax for every gallon of gas sold. Maintenance needs are growing as roads age, Hecox said, but maintenance funds are dropping as gas prices rise and people buy less."
So if people keep driving we cannot afford to build more roads. If people stop driving they cannot afford the current roads? Reasoning tells me that if less people drive then the need for more money will decrease. Where do these guys come up w/ this crap?
Jason politicians who answer
Jason politicians who answer to far left wing environmental wackos can certainly stop drill, refineriers, nuke plants, wind farms ect.
if we drilled more...
Then that oil would be exported. We only import 27% or our imported oil from the middle east, the rest is from Canada and Russia. The oil companies make their money by passing the oil thru intermediary subsidiary companies during the import process. If you think for one minute that the oil companies are going to give up the gravy train they have now and lower fuel prices, then you've been sniffing your gas caps.
Politicians can't control markets
Despite their promises and blames, politicians have little to no control over global markets. People should feel insulted by politician promising they can, because it's an arrogant assumption people are too stupid to know better.