Traffic congestion is a seemingly perpetual problem. Not only does it cause anxiety among drivers and pedestrians, it burns extra fossil fuels and generates heavy carbon emissions. It's also financially burdensome, costing citizens $115 billion in extra gas and lost time, according to the 2010 Annual Urban Mobility Report from the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University.
Solving traffic congestion often involves enormous cost — frequently funded by bond measures — and construction conditions that temporarily make the problems even worse. The recent economic recession took some drivers off the road, but as the sluggish recovery progresses, America's localities will face new traffic slowdowns, according to the report.
Could IT play a part in the cure? Sure. Some projects address downtown traffic while others focus on freeway commutes — but many sources say technology is no silver bullet for reducing traffic congestion. Complete solutions typically involve widening highways and incentivizing public transit use. Still, a sampling of what's already in the works could help CIOs determine which undertakings would be worth their efforts.
July 1, 2011 By Andy Opsahl
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