Unsatisfied with the comprehensive Berger Study
conclusions, the pro-road group hired a consultant to find flaws in the study,
flaws that could be twisted to support rebuilding the road. Deep in the traffic
appendix, there are computer projections of intersection delays, which Berger
failed to label “over-capacity.” The pro-road consultant manipulated these
projections to produce incredible effects, presuming the delays were real.
The Berger Group correctly put the delay projections in context, concluding that
"reopening Klingle Road would produce negligible beneficial improvements to
traffic congestion or safety at surrounding intersections." Regarding air
quality, the report concluded “it is unlikely that any build option would
increase traffic, rather existing traffic patterns would shift, and therefore
would not produce adverse short-term or long-term impacts on air quality.”
Recently, DDOT ran additional physical delay counts. The computer generated
delays, when compared with the physical delay counts, are 400% greater in delay
time. The computer projections were described by Berger engineers as
“essentially meaningless and misleading to laypeople.” D.C.’s Bureau of
Environmental Quality advised that “any conclusions ... drawn from an analysis
based on erroneous data are highly questionable.” The American Lung Association
withdrew its ill-considered endorsement of the road plan because it found that
they “must rely on sound scientific data as the basis for its conclusion.”.