Lets kick congestion to the curb!
As far as the infrastructural solutions to reducing traffic, adding more lanes is no longer an effective long-term solution. Adding more lanes is expensive and can encourage more people to drive, which will increase congestion on that road. As the United States government spends billions of dollars on infrastructure every year, there is an increased emphasis on solutions being cost-effective. Among the proposed solutions that we found to be the most effective were flex lanes and ramp meters. These solutions use smarter tech and help maximize current roads while reducing congestion.
Flex Lanes
Ramp Meters
Flex Lanes
Flex lanes are an extended shoulder that doubles as an extra lanes during peak hours of traffic or an unusual spike in congestion. Through the use of digital signs, flex lanes allow drivers to use the lane during highly congested roads. The signs are controlled by highway control officials who use traffic sensors to gauge congestion, or by preset code set for rush hour traffic. Flex lanes are usually placed on the inside shoulder of the highway. Great examples of flex lanes in action are US-23 in Michigan and US-12/18 in Wisconsin.
Ramp Meters
Ramp meters are useful tools for controlling traffic flow onto freeways. Ramp meters are a form of traffic signal that restricts drivers from merging whenever they want on on-ramps. This helps congestion by restricting the flow of traffic onto freeways, giving all vehicles a clear time to merge. This significantly lowers the chance of drivers succumbing to a traffic accident as a result of merging onto a congested highway.