Recent forecasts from the Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis have predicted significantly longer travel times for road traffic due to congestion. In five years, travel times for car traffic is expected to go up by roughly one third. Increased road capacity will not be able to accommodate the growth of traffic.

The figures have been published in a recent report by KiM, the Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis. The report predicts that between 2017 and 2023, the total amount of traffic will increase by 8%, while the distance travelled will go up by 10%. As a result, road traffic in The Netherlands will face more congestion. It is anticipated that travel times will increase by up to 35 % by 2023.

The institute also expects an increase in public transport use. As a result of improvements in the quality and service of public transport, the number of kilometres travelled by train is forecast to increase by 14% between 2017 and 2023. The use of bus, tram and metro is also expected to go up, by 6%.

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