Traffic Congestion

London is attempting to make streets safer for cyclists and motorists by turning off traffic lights in one part of the city for a short amount of time.

Reducing traffic congestion can have big economic benefits for communities, according to a new study from the Reason Foundation.

Japan's four major highway operators will drastically lower their tolls, thanks to a generous government economic stimulus package aimed to encourage motoring during the major holidays. The operators are preparing for the enormous traffic jams.

The Town Council of Ealing, U.K. is experimenting with covering up its traffic lights at certain intersections, which they believe will increase safety and awareness.

Officials in Lagos, Nigeria, are praising the recently installed Bus Rapid Transit system as making distinct improvements in mobility for the crowded and growing African city.

In this op-ed, the executive director of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority makes a case for congestion pricing in the City, though he is quick to indicate the SFCTA is only studying the concept to see if it could be applied there.

Author Paul Sorensen details the findings of a recent RAND study recommending short term (i.e., within five years) fixes for rampant congestion in Southern California.

According to Neal Payton, Santa Monica's Proposition T, intended to cut traffic growth, is useless.

What do you get when you designate a carpool lane on a toll road for hybrids and carpoolers? A 'green' lane, say Illinois planners. However, they still pay the toll. Now add a "HOT lane overlay" to it - solo drivers can use it for a 'premium'.

Paradoxically, Chicago's roads are more gridlocked than ever despite fewer trips by car overall due to gas prices.

Business owners fear dedicated transit lane would discourage shopping along Telegraph Avenue, while proponents look to BRT as a cheap way to clear up traffic.

This segment from NPR features a discussion with Houston Mayor Bill White about the city's increasing congestion, the limits of zoning, and the population's reaction to rising gas prices.

In Boston, the MBTA and city planners are weighing the benefits and drawbacks of creating transit-oriented development along a major traffic corridor.

Earth Island Journal takes an in-depth look at how and why congestion pricing got the kibosh in New York.

This article from Reason argues that a double-decker traffic tunnel can effectively reduce congestion in Atlanta -- one of the most congested cities in America.

Americans are notoriously bad at navigating European-style traffic circles, but it seems Canadians are also confounded.

In a policy analysis for the Cato Institute, Randal O'Toole reviews plans for more than 75 of the nation's largest metropolitan areas reveals that virtually all of them fail to follow standard planning methods, and half of them are not effective.

Avoiding traffic congestion may soon be as easy as surfing the web, thanks to new web software that maps out congestion and calculates the best and most efficient driving routes.

Officials in New York are pleading their case for a congestion pricing plan before city councilors as the April 7 deadline for approval approaches.

Researchers in Japan have created a live model of the so-called "shockwave" theory to explain traffic congestion.