>The "demand" already exists and simply isn't being met by the inadequate infrastructure. the induced demand argument isn't simply that we should never build t

>The "demand" already exists and simply isn't being met by the inadequate infrastructure. the induced demand argument isn't simply that we should never build transportation infrastrucutre, it's that adding a lane to an existing road is a bad way to meet that demand because the traffic that one lane can carry is insufficient to exceed the demand that one lane will induce. yes, the road expansion will be "successful" in that people will use it. but if it was pitched as a way to improve travel times, reduce congestion, or improve safety, that will probably be a failure. if you're not going to the opera because the road is too busy, and the added lane releases that unmet demand, the road will still be just as busy as before and you still won't get to the opera. everybody else is doing the same math as you, and deciding that if the road isn't too busy they're going to drive. and so the road is always too busy.