By Peter Murphy
Published July 7, 2023
A paper describing the effects of road widening on traffic congestion received the best paper award at the 2023 annual conference of the International Transportation Economics Association (ITEA).
The paper, titled "Downs's Law under the lens of theory: Roads lower congestion and increase distance traveled," employs innovative theoretical economic models, and investigates both the direct and indirect effects of increasing road space on various factors, including rents, incomes, the value of time and road costs.
The study, conducted by Stephen Still Institute of Sustainable Transportation and Logistics affiliated faculty member Alex Anas, also sheds new light on the relationship between road capacity and congestion, challenging conventional wisdom in the field of transportation economics.
According to ITEA, the conference aims to promote scientific excellence in the field of transportation economics and to provide a forum for scientific exchange.
“I am gratified by this honor,” Anas says. “Over 180 papers were submitted to the conference, 154 of these were accepted for presentation and 122 were presented.”
The study conducted by Anas, the Frank H. and Josephine L. Goodyear Professor and chair of the Department of Economics, builds upon the predictions of American economist Anthony Downs from 1962. The paper, while purely theoretical, could have a significant impact on the debate surrounding widening roads and its effect on traffic congestion. By measuring travel delays, the research unequivocally demonstrates that increasing road capacity lowers congestion. This finding aligns with Downs' initial hypothesis that wider roads can effectively alleviate congestion.
