US DOT announces $250M program to reduce congestion in urban areas
22 February 2024
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced a new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program that makes $250 million available, over five years, in competitive grants to advance innovative, multimodal solutions to reduce vehicular traffic in the most congested metropolitan areas of the United States.
The Congestion Relief Program is accepting applications for the first round through a Notice of Funding Opportunity, which provides $150 million in grants for fiscal years 2022, 2023 and 2024. The grants are available to states, metropolitan planning organizations, cities, and municipalities for projects in urban areas with a population of at least one million.
The Congestion Relief Program provides funding to reduce highway congestion and the economic and environmental costs associated with congestion, including pollution from transportation emissions. The program also optimizes existing highway capacity and transit systems, improves coordination with transit, and encourages other modes of travel.
Eligible projects include the deployment and operation of integrated congestion management systems; certain transit and mobility services; and incentive programs encouraging travelers to carpool, use transit, or travel during nonpeak periods. The agency will give priority to projects that advance innovative, multimodal solutions to traffic congestion in urban areas that are experiencing a high degree of recurrent congestion.
The whole VTOL air taxi idea is trying to convince us that's the solution to urban congestion, it's just shifts it to the air from the ground, it's a worse nightmare, many ways to solve this problem.
Posted by: SJC | 22 February 2024 at 06:45 AM
Agree, SJC. The VTOL air taxi idea will crash badly...pie in the sky...pun intended...! A true menace for those on the ground.
Good urban design and zoning is the key to reduce traffic congestion, by reducing the need to drive around. Should have shops and businesses intermingled with residential neighborhood, and allow people to live above their businesses, shops and stores...for those who are self-employed, thereby no need to commute to work, would be the best. Have apartments built around places of employment and businesses to eliminate the need for commuting would be another way to help those who are not self-employed. Give incentive for those who live near their work places is another solution.
I have seen videos on YouTube by people who live in their modified vans and SUVs, and parked in the parking lot where they work, thereby eliminating the need for commuting, and alleviating the housing shortages in many big cities. These vehicles (mobile homes) should be encouraged by the government, and mass-produced, because they represent very cost-effective way to live in big cities with rents of $1,500 to $2,500 per month for a small 1-room efficiency apartment. Hybrid power train is to be preferred, due to the built-in electricity generator that can power air-conditioning and heat pump. Alternatively, we should encourage vehicular charging at the work places for PHEVs, and these mobile homes can be plugged-in for electricity for A/C and heating and cooking.
A good used vehicle can be purchased for $15,000 and modified for ~$1k-2k more... that can last for 10 years, and can be recouped from the saving in housing rental cost in less than 1 year.
This is a great and most economical way to travel from cities to cities and you will save a lot of money from airfares, hotels, and eating out...Camping out in national parks is another great way to enjoy life with very little cost.
Posted by: Roger Pham | 22 February 2024 at 12:47 PM