The U.S. Department of Transportation Congestion Initiative
In May 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) announced the National Strategy to Reduce Congestion of America’s Transportation Network (otherwise known as the Congestion Initiative). This initiative is focused on making meaningful and near-term reductions in congestion. Because of this initiative, the Department set a goal that calls for reducing congestion, not just reducing the rate of growth of congestion.
The Congestion Initiative includes six areas of interest. Each area includes activities with the potential to both reduce congestion in the short term and to build the foundation for successful longer-term congestion-reduction efforts.
Relieve Urban Congestion. The Department will enter into Urban Partnership Agreements with cities willing to pursue comprehensive, bold, and innovative congestion pricing strategies to reduce congestion. It is important to note that for road pricing to be successful it must be part of a comprehensive package that includes making transit more attractive; providing travel alternatives, such as telecommuting, that reduce the demand for highway transportation; ensuring that the system is operating at peak performance and that proper technology is in place to support effective and efficient application of the pricing strategy.
Unleash Private Sector Investment Resources. The Department is working to reduce or remove barriers to private sector investment in the construction, ownership, and operation of transportation infrastructure.
Promote Operational and Technological Improvements. The Department is working to advance low-cost operational and technological improvements aimed at congestion reduction. It is encouraging and supporting state efforts to 1) provide real-time traffic information to all users; 2) deploy incident management strategies such as the formation of roving response teams and quick clearance and "move it" laws; 3) improve traffic signal timing; 4) improve work zone safety and mobility; and 5) deploy quick fix operational and low-cost construction strategies to address congestion.
Establish a "Corridors of the Future" Competition. The Department is accelerating the development of multistate, multiuse transportation corridors by running a competition to select three to five major growth corridors in need of long-term investment.
Target Major Freight Bottlenecks and Expand Freight Policy Outreach. The Department is working to find and implement solutions to freight transportation and border congestion that will facilitate trade and travel without compromising either highway safety or the vital mission of securing America's borders. This area of interest emphasizes a Southern California Freight Outreach effort that will broker consensus on immediate and longer-term transportation solutions by bringing together key stakeholders.
Accelerate Major Aviation Capacity Projects and Provide a Future Funding Framework. The Department is working to address congestion in the aviation system by designing and deploying the Next Generation Air Transportation System. In addition, the Department will advance reforms that lead to better management of airport and airspace congestion.
