Turbulent Traffic of Los Angeles

California's prestigious City of Angels is known for many things. Long summers, breathtaking views, and celebrities galore are just a few of the unique traits that shape this metropolis. But, another trait must be mentioned; an unflattering acknowledgement that is cringeworthy to say the least. Los Angeles is the top rated city in the United States for traffic congestion. Is it reasonable to think that this problem will ever end? A commuter can spend hours stuck in traffic. The smoggy air and added emissions from the other vehicles only add to the misery. Precious gas is wasted as commuters slowly crawl the sprawling freeways that lay before them. It can often seem like an eternity just to go a short distance. A driver's accompanying radio can seem like a mindless collection of noise and chatter as the commute time grows progressively longer. Entertaining sights and sounds are limited as a driver sits motionless. These are the conditions an L.A. driver must face. A main contributor to the transportation problem may be in the layout of the city itself. Los Angeles is unique in the fact that the city is spread out over a massive area which encompasses mountains, valleys, beaches, and deserts. Clusters of communities dot the cityscape, and often these communities are far away from one another. Residents are forced to brave the journey through the network of omnipresent freeways in order to get to the next community. Public transportation is simply not able to accommodate this massive spread of territory, thus forcing people to use their own means of transportation to reach their destination. The obvious population boom is another contributing factor. Los Angeles has the second largest population in the United States behind New York City. Even with the traffic issues, many people who live in other areas throughout the country and the world succumb to the temptation of the sunshine and good quality of life, so they decide to move here. The numerous amounts of people only add to the traffic nuisance. Of course, the crumbling economy of California is also a determent to the infrastructure. With the state plunging further into bankruptcy, local governments have also struggled. Funding has been cut in many sectors, so transportation improvements are often halted. Certainly there have been efforts made to combat the traffic chaos. The city's metro subway system has been extended to serve more areas, although this has been a rather slow process. Freeway lanes are being added to accommodate the plethora of motorized vehicles. It seems that even with all the efforts and refinements, the City of Angels will still be plagued with hellish traffic conditions. As one of the most renowned cities in the world, the popularity of Los Angeles is never likely to cease. Throngs of vacationers and would-be entertainers will continue to flock to this southwestern paradise, leaving a snarled web of traffic woes in their wake. Horrible traffic conditions are just one of those things a person in Los Angeles will have to learn to live with in their lives.