Last Updated on 21 June 2026 by Paulo Anciaes
Post by Dr. Stephen Watkins
The following letter appeared in The Guardian weekly on 29th May 2026
Spend road money on public transport instead
The three articles in your story on public transport (Highways to Hell, Big Story, 15th May) failed to mention the work of Martin Mogridge, which showed that in congested road systems the speed of traffic is not improved (except temporarily) by improved roads but instead depends on the quality of public transport, especially the rail system.
This is understandable since better highways unlock suppressed demand for relocation, while transit sets the standard that the car must compete with. It follows that money spent on road building to improve traffic flow is wasted and would be much more effective if spent on public transit.