An Open Letter on Traffic and Parking

Without a doubt, car sales in Argentina have reached historic levels. With lower interest
rates and a state government which provided financing for purchases of new vehicles,
the Argentinians have been encouraged to buy more cars than ever. While this growth
forced upon us as a sign of economic prosperity boosted the automobile industry, it
also resulted in intolerable levels of traffic congestion in major metropolitan areas. The
city of Rosario is no exception. Traffic and consequently parking has emerged as
an unavoidable problem in our city and it must be tackled energetically and
immediately.
However, by choosing to promote the construction of two underground parking
garages, the citys policymakers keep on encouraging the use of cars for every short
trip that we make with all the unfavourable consequences that this entails on the urban
environment. Although it is true that parking is an integrated component of the roadway
system, excessive parking can create problems. Parking facilities are costly to build
and maintain and require considerable expenditure from city planners, users and local
governments. Abundant parking systematically contributes to increasing driving activity
which in turn discourages the use of alternative modes of transport. Added to this,
parking facilities have a concrete impact on community development goals for more
walkable, bikeable and livable cities.
The building of these underground parking garages not only will produce a detrimental
effect on the citys urban design but will also lead future plans for a light rail system to
fade into oblivion, though it has clearly been proven worldwide that light rail can help
meet increasing passenger demand, drastically reduce dependence on private car
travel and relieve traffic congestion as well as stimulating a more efficient and
sustainable form of urban development.