Clean Air for the Triangle Area: An Action Agenda
Rampant Growth in the Triangle area
- The Triangle was the nation's 6th fastest-growing major metro area during the nineties, a decade in which the area's population grew by 39 percent.
- Explosive growth is projected to continue well into the 21st century: between 2000 and 2030, the population of the area is expected to nearly double, growing by a staggering 94 percent.
- A recent study identified the Triangle as the third most sprawling metro area in the country - one in which density has actually decreased despite rapid population growth.
- Due in large part to sprawl-induced driving, the area's air pollution has gotten so bad that the American Lung Association included the Triangle on its 2004 list of the 25 smoggiest areas.
- As a result of sprawling land use patterns that segregate the places where people live, work, shop and recreate most Triangle area residents drive virtually everywhere. At over 31.4 miles per person every day; per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the Raleigh urbanized area is the 13th highest in the nation, with Durham urbanized area following closely behind.
- EPA projections suggest the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) will continue to grow at a rate of two to three percent per year, more than doubling in Wake County between 2004 and 2031, resulting in dirtier air and worse congestion.
- Motorists in the Raleigh urbanized area wasted an average of 26 hours - and 19 million gallons of fuel - stuck in traffic in 2002, up just seven hours in 1982.
