Induced Traffic

"Widened highways generate their own traffic. This phenomenon, called induced travel, raises urgent questions for the Washington Region." - from "Widen the Roads, Drivers will Come - MD's I-270 Offers a Lesson." Wash. Post, 1/4/99

"Induced Traffic", or induced travel, is a term that refers to any increase in total daily travel over an entire transportation system that results from a change in transportation system capacity.

In other words, induced travel refers to the increase in traffic that results from an increase in road capacity, much in line with the saying "if you build it, they will come."

Therefore, when major highway projects are proposed, studies must consider how the project will potentially induce more travel in the area. The Council of Governments (COG) Transportation Planning Board (TPB) are responsible for this "travel forecasting" process.