More Highways Don’t Mean Less Traffic

Why do everyday Californians, including low-income workers, older adults, and people with disabilities, still wait on unreliable public transit while California spends billions widening highways that don’t fix traffic? 

The ability to get around with dignity is a basic right. But instead of building transit, walking, and biking infrastructure that actually gets people where they need to go, California keeps funding highway expansion projects that have repeatedly failed to solve traffic congestion.

California faces an important choice about the future of transportation.

Will state leaders continue investing billions of taxpayer dollars in expanding highways that have repeatedly failed to solve traffic congestion? Or will we build a transportation system that creates a healthier, more affordable, and more equitable future where every Californian can thrive?

Highways aren’t solving traffic. They’re costing communities and forcing working families to pay a heavy price.

As the cost of living and gas prices continue to rise, working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and everyday Californians face growing transportation costs. For many, simply getting to work means making difficult choices between filling the gas tank and paying for other necessities like groceries. When owning a car and filling the tank becomes more expensive year after year, Californians simply cannot afford billions of taxpayer dollars to continue to fund highway expansion projects that fail to deliver on their promises.

Looking ahead, California’s state officials and leaders must take advantage of every opportunity to invest in healthier and affordable modes of transportation so Californians have multiple options to get where they need to go. It’s their responsibility to expand public transit, improve walking and biking infrastructure, and create safer, more connected communities that can lower household transportation costs while improving health, mobility, and quality of life.

Research has consistently shown that widening highways does not reduce congestion over the long term. In fact, adding more lanes often creates more traffic through a phenomenon known as induced demand. Meanwhile, the impacts on nearby communities are immediate and lasting — from displacement and rising housing costs to increased air pollution, climate emissions, and public health risks.

What You’ll Learn

This short video explores:

• The reasons that the State of California continues to invest in highway expansion despite evidence that more lanes doesn’t solve traffic congestion.
• The unseen social, economic, environmental, and public health impacts of freeway widening.
• How highway projects are continuing to have a disproportionate impact on communities of color and formerly redlined neighborhoods.
• Why investing in public transit, walking, biking, and other transportation options creates stronger, healthier communities.
• A real-world example of community-led advocacy that demonstrates a better path forward.

At the end of this road – we hope that you’ll ask yourself the tough question – Are we building transportation systems that move people — or simply making room for more cars?

Watch this short video. Learn the facts. And join us in advocating for transportation investments that prioritize people and our communities.

A Special Thanks to Our Partners

This project would not have been possible without the partnership, expertise, and leadership of the advocates and community leaders working every day to build healthier, more connected communities.

Special thanks to:

• ActiveSGV, including Dale Zapata
• California Assemblymember José Luis Solache, Jr. Solache*
• Alex Contreras and the Happy City Coalition

We are deeply grateful for your partnership and commitment to advancing equitable transportation solutions.