European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 30, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine Tost m o by lit y in California by Robert  new York times economists ii Kyj big Dinoss leaders  it a in  arc lacing such Jer Inui Traller. Congestion idol Ito slate  i a. A the m.i". Lanip Lalion system i. Burst Nyal the or Arr. Hit commission on  Sale government Oti Jinni Alion and Economy a panel of businessmen and Viii vital lenders said in a Sli Idy complo Lod in March ii earned of mounting economic consequences irom the Laic s failure to Deal win inc problems workday commute of an hour to two hoi us Are becoming the Norm in some Maior metro Bolilan areas me commission said thai is causing Tost proud civil and frustration of workers caught in Urban gridlock while placing California on inc in pfc of a transport Liun crisis which will ailed hit economic Prosperity of try  Theca Llorian Ami his automobile Liko the co Hoy and his horse Havn Inq been a pan of american legend. Cruising inc void s most extensive system no freeways.  grew accustomed m the 1960s and 1970s Loa a nullity found in lev other places. Of being Able i a  50 Miles or Munro from a Job and of driving air i at tar Lor a night s dinner engagement now irom one end us the country s most populous slate to Iho Oiler. Californians arc complaining Abdul loss mobility. Opinion coolers say Hal in Many Urban areas Ira flip congestion has supplanted crime unemployment and other problems As Tho Public s most import land concern according to come economists Shore is already evidence that unhappy mass Over the choked Highway system is restricting the stale s economic vitally. In los Angeles san Diego and Orange county a rapidly urbanizing area Between those Southern California cities growing Highway congestion is being widely cited As lha main impetus behind citizen campaigns aimed Al slowing Community growth and restricting constructed of housing so Aleido Iho principal reasons cited for increased congestion include rapid population growth a slowed Pace of Highway construction Sinca the mid-1970s and inadequate mass transp oration also land Uso planning decisions in Many cases scattered housing areas far irom Job a Encis and filled Many suburban owns with High Rise Ollice buildings until recently Tho stale s worst traffic conditions were generally found in Southern California. Where comm tag hour Ira hic densities on Tho Ventura. San Diego and Santa Monica freeways have Long been among the heaviest in Tiu world Bui stale italic c Luj in cars Jay Hal since 1902 Conral lion has Hern  much la scr in Ito a Francisco Gay area Hur. Iri Southern California from 19b2 to 1s85 congestion in Iho Bay area. Measured by the  lc.r.1 by motor Isle in Liaf Lic j Asod Al a. I subsided Siracu Ittin California s a Laid by Cadov to Sta Siili ii i in a  pallens a. Based on a slim Timie lost to Driver a her. Jinnu Fly according to  Oparin Liuyu Lor 10 Sirito Lut Nui Southern Calil Nrma i5fjp-ccn1 i Jii pc m inc Bay  his.  outpacing South Fern ,1 are1, Jas  evening nah hour on Highway 101 leading North toward downtown san it Anelleo. They Musl travel 35 Miles an hour or less on map highways. Engineers estimate thai Cal lormans nov lose More than -100,000 vehicle hours each Day in iral fic jams. Ii current trends continue. The engineers project a total of 2 million hours daily by 2005 much of the Midas cd congestion is Alln Bullert to population growth parity because of a Surgo of immigration irom Tolhur slalom and abroad especially Mexico and asian countries. California s population has increased by More than a third since 1975, to a est mated local of �8 million cities such As son Diego san Jose Sacramento. Fresno and Santa Rosa Liao become in gear population centers. The number of chides schist fed in the stale  Moie than 22 million has increased at an Evon last i into Shan the population As Lias the average number of Miles driven Trail by a ice Chirlo. According Loir Ilic specialists the increasing Rumbur of motor vehicles arc crowding onto the mate s Ruud Syi Lom Oiler a pc nod in which Highway Ron of Tudmon Vns slowed  by budget to sanctions. Thor mlle acc of a so Ronij environmental lobby Hal blocked Many pro a Tir and policies of Loimoc Rcv Edmjnd g Bro in i in Biown s eight Vrain administration Vijh in ended in 19g3i expansion of the i Reway system wat. Sha Rov curtailed because i  to wanted to induce commuters to give up the cars and use Public transportation although los Angeles san Diego. San Joe and Sacramento have begun Vork on modes transit systems few Urban planners end eco them to put much of a Deal a inc Road congestion problems very soon local land uie planning disc icons arc Aho blamed in Santa Clara county. Hub at the High Lech electronics Industry near san Jose  More Man 130.000 in is Wosic created irom 19pq through 19b5 but orgy x 000  housing units y.5 Bill requiring Many  Tournu Long ois lances on already Salij Jed life is Santa Clara ,-1. Nol unique the Nijen crr lol saturday apnl30. 1988 housing Nihro Ghoul the Urban areas has prompted Cal formans to drive farther and farther to Obs Many Lor example now commute More than 90 minutes each Way irom Modesto and other  towns in the san pc arum Valley to jobs in Tho Bay area cast of in because Homes in the Valloy Insl less than half As much Many or Ange county workers la o a. Long commuting irom communities in Riverside and san Bernardino counties thai were recently Liliu non than desert wasteland Urban planners of lha congestion was Aho increased by an epidemic of  of  Lowers in suburban communities in the Early Toby i fuelled by inc easy availability of capital from a recently deregulated savings and loan Industry and Ihnn Lav Brablc to Laws in places  As in Lynul Creek  by drum Community near Oak Lanti. Plai Mois we. Iho Pisand o jobs have been created in re con year but to highways have been Hull la sevc them Wrallie engineers say they ice  Mitmon to she problem it would take in any . I l  j to dollars and years to Boldi More . Icy  dul the slate s department of Tran jul Alan.  wan Strong a Lii Decd in the recent report by the commission on stale government Graj animation aral Economy Lor not moving faster to Deal no the in attic problems says n is or Inq of make existing highways More efficient none of Iheson pall Silivos 15 Likely to help soon however. In the Bay Aida. Lor , the slate plans a oiled new lanes to several highways la Cany on y buses arid car pools and in designing what it says will be a congestion reducing surveillance system Lor Road a leading to and from the san Frd Nosco Oakland a Budge a Maior Boli Zenuck when the system is comple cd in Hil id 1990s in Auric on 2ie Miles of i3ay arc Aliee a a Are to be monitored by  cameras and sensors m Thi pavement Alloa info Aco Nirol can Ltd to  is of Road conditions through  and e Recti c signs the stars and stripes Paga 13