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It seems that Portland is experiencing a real surge in auto traffic lately. I notice it, and my friends and family are always complaining about it. There鈥檚 no doubt that there鈥檚 more traffic, but what can realistically be done about it?

Metro has produced an interesting look at the data in a very accessible Regional Snapshot on Transportation. What it tells us is that, while auto trips are up primarily due to the surge in population growth and cheap gas prices, traffic is a lot better here than other cities, and a lot better than it would be if we didn鈥檛 have the transportation choices we have. The average number of miles driven per capita here continues to decline, and is already well below the national average. One particularly encouraging sign is that since 2000 most new regional trips were made not by car but through other means. So we are clearly on the right planning path, but there鈥檚 still more traffic to contend with.

The primary cause of congestion is roadway capacity or bottleneck problems, which means they could theoretically be fixed through road construction projects. But it鈥檚 also clear that given the resources available, the best use of transportation dollars is to keep as many cars off the road as possible by greatly enhancing alternative forms of transportation, particularly transit and walking. And that鈥檚 exactly what the region is doing with its flexible transportation money 鈥� largely federal gas tax dollars. But since that tax rate has not changed since the 1990s this pot is not growing fast enough to meet the needs. (State gas taxes have to be spent on 鈥渞oad-related鈥� uses.) So, the bottom line is we are stuck making small improvements, but until there are major increases in revenue don鈥檛 expect any real relief from our congestion woes.