Region's Road Network Fails Evacuation Capability

National Study Gives Region’s Road Network

“F” for Evacuation Capability



A study commissioned by the American Highway Users Alliance and American Bus Association reaffirms the Alliance’s longstanding position that tens of thousands of area lives are at risk because our regional transportation network lacks the capacity and connectivity to evacuate people in the face of an international terrorist attack



The study evaluated the 37 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S in terms the ability of road networks to evacuate residents during an emergency. It considered three major categories and produced on overall index.



The results are as follows:



· Exit Capacity – Our regional road network is rated “F” and 21st of 37th for capacity to evacuate population over a 12-hour period.



· Internal Flow – The region’s network is rated F and 35th in terms of its ability to efficiently feed major outbound evacuation routes.



· Automobile Accessibility – The good news is we receive an “A” rating in automobile accessibility recognized as the most reliable form of evacuation for most people. The bad news is public policy in this area is aimed more and more at limiting or discouraging automobile use.



· Overall Evacuation Index – When these three factors are combined into a single index, this region receives a grade of 44 out of a possible 100 and places it 29th.



The report also notes a direct relationship between regions with the greatest population density and the lack of evacuation capacity. It describes the Washington region’s highway network capacity as “well below average.”



To read the complete report click here.

http://www.highways.org/pdfs/evacuation_report_card2006.pdf



Tragically and inexplicably, in the more than five years since September 11, 2001, federal, state, regional and local officials have made no effort to significantly improve existing evacuation routes or construct new ones.



While Iran, North Korea and other rogue nations develop nuclear and other terrorist capabilities, the fourth lane on I-95 near Ft. Belvoir is still not built, work on I-66 inside the Beltway remains relegated to “spot improvement studies,” elected officials won’t even talk about new bridges and bypasses, and the “official” regional evacuation motto is “shelter in place.”



What is it about the International Terrorism Threat

to the Residents of our Region

that our Elected Officials Still Don’t Understand?





Contact Info

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