There is no better place to study traffic congestion than Southern California. In our famously gridlocked region, traffic directly ties to development patterns and growth. The ITS traffic congestion research program, a joint effort with the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, examines the connections between traffic and urban development, economic activity, and transportation planning. We pay particular attention to public finance tools — including the controversial tool of congestion pricing — as a way to inform policymakers in the quest to “solve” gridlock.

LEAD SCHOLAR

Michael Manville
Associate Professor of Urban Planning

Spotlight

In the News

Fortune

New York City may soon hit drivers with a $15 fee for the privilege of driving into the most traffic-choked parts of Manhattan

February 29, 2024

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Los Angeles Times

California says it prioritizes climate goals over freeway widening. So why is the 15 Freeway getting more lanes?

February 5, 2024

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Los Angeles Times

‘You can smell the pollution’: 10 Freeway closure brings traffic, fumes, anger for residents

November 16, 2023

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LAist

LA Traffic Is Worse, But Not Terrible And It Probably Won’t Get Better

November 15, 2023

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Journal Articles

Is Traffic Congestion Overrated? Examining the Highly Variable Effects of Congestion on Travel and Accessibility

Andrew Mondschein, Brian D. Taylor

Journal of Transport Geography, 2017

Does traffic congestion influence the location of new business establishments?An analysis of the San Francisco Bay Area

Taner Osman, Trevor Thomas, Andrew Mondschein, Brian D Taylor

Urban Studies, 2018

Not so fast? Examining neighborhood-level effects of traffic congestion on job access

Trevor Thomas, Andrew Mondschein, Taner Osman, Brian D Taylor

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2018

Would Congestion Pricing Harm the Poor? Do Free Roads Help the Poor?

Michael Manville, Emily Goldman

Journal of Planning Education and Research, 2017

Projects

Scholars

Study transportation at the #1 public university

Transportation-related degrees at UCLA

Master of Public Policy in Transportation

Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering in Transportation

Master of Urban and Regional Planning in Transportation

Master’s in Civil Engineering in Transportation

Ph.D. Urban Planning in Transportation

Ph.D. Civil Engineering in Transportation

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