Congestion, Changing Metropolitan Structure, and City Size in the United States

Abstract

Using the Nationwide Personal Transportation Study surveys of 1977 and 1983-84, this article demonstrates that there is no discernible relationship between city size class and trip lengths, times, and speeds, and that commuting speeds did not decline between 1977 and 1983. The most convincing explanation of why congestion did not become more severe is the continued spatial decentralization of both firms and households, which permitted travel economies, especially for suburban residents in larger cities. The continued competitiveness of the large metropolitan areas is mainly attributable to this adjustment process.