PEAK HOUR ROADWAY LANE CAPACITY
-- © LRN - Jul 10, 2000

The basic problem with urban/suburban freeways is they take up so much space for the capacity they deliver. At 1500 cars per lane per hour, a six lane freeway's maximum capacity is about 11,000 people per hour (service level "E") within a 300 foot right of way (row). Urban rail systems can deliver as much or more capacity in 100 foot or less of row. The Dallas light rail line when completed to Garland and Richardson will be able to deliver at least 20% more hourly capacity than a six lane freeway (13760 people per hour) at 14% less capital cost per mile. Heavy rail systems like the Washington MetroRail have five times the capacity of a six lane freeway in about one third the space and cost about the same per mile as the Century Freeway in Los Angeles.