Report: Suburbs no longer provide escape from city traffic

ATLANTA - Census numbers confirm what many Atlantans stuck in traffic already know the suburbs provide no escape from the roadway hassles of the city. <br> <br> Instead of a traditional commute into the city in the morning and back to the suburbs after work, Atlanta area drivers are more likely to get stuck going from suburb to suburb, according to figures released Thursday. The statistics also showed that even people who live in Atlanta often work in the suburbs. <br> <br> The result is a traffic mess of people going in all directions at different times of day, said Charles A. Gallagher, a sociology professor at Georgia State University. <br> <br> ``Thirty years ago, you had to go to the city to get certain things. That&#39;s no longer the case,&#39;&#39; Gallagher said. ``The suburbs are not just a string of housing developments with a CVS and a 7-11. They can serve all the residents here, all their needs, from sports to culture to food, and jobs as well.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Places like Gwinnett and Cobb counties have become cities of their own, rivaling Atlanta for jobs, shopping, restaurants and recreation. In Gwinnett County, a new sports arena is regularly drawing thousands, and a proposed arts center would keep more people away from the city. <br> <br> The growth of more cities within the 20-county Atlanta metropolitan area will help shorten some long drives to work, recreation and shopping, said Jim Ritchey, acting director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. <br> <br> ``The key is that people won&#39;t want to get in their cars for every trip, and that way we&#39;ll have a much lower amount of vehicle miles,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> The state should plan for growth by building more high-occupancy vehicle lanes, widening roads and building limited new roads, he said. <br> <br> The 2000 Census figures show more people traveling every day from Cobb and Gwinnett into Atlanta than they did in 1990. But commuters also increasingly live in more urban areas and work in the suburbs. Nearly 35,000 people drive from DeKalb County to Gwinnett County daily, compared to 20,900 in 1990. About 21,200 people travel from Fulton County to Gwinnett County, up from 12,500 in 1990. <br> <br> ``Historically, we usually understood commuting as commuting into the city and then out to the suburbs,&#39;&#39; Gallagher said. ``That has changed significantly in the last 10 years in Atlanta, because the suburbs have grown so phenomenally.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The Census data indicate many people are only traveling to and from the suburbs, and never really coming close to Atlanta. For example, 18,900 people drive from Cherokee County to Cobb County, 14,850 ride from Paulding to Cobb and 13,500 commute from Henry County to Clayton County.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/3/182367