15. Lessons Learned from Managing Transportation Demand for Suburban Areas of Washington, DC: Implications for Rapidly Growing Cities of the World

The central question that confronts transportation policy in cities around the world is: Can congestion ever be completely eradicated? This chapter endeavors to address this question and explore potential solutions to transportation challenges by drawing upon data from one of the most congested regions in the United States, the Washington DC metropolitan area. An analysis of historical and contemporary socioeconomic data pertaining to the DC metropolitan area reveals that transportation issues cannot be effectively resolved in isolation, without considering the broader economic activities of the community. It highlights that a certain level of congestion is deemed acceptable as a consequence of the allocation of limited resources and that the ultimate objective of transportation is to cultivate high-quality, environmentally sustainable, and safe communities where people aspire to reside—not to entirely eliminate congestion. In line with this perspective, the foundational principles for addressing transportation problems revolve around the sustainable development of the entire community. This chapter identifies and discusses policies related to technology and land use as essential components of long-term strategies for traffic management.