Traffic in America: Why Bigger Roads Are Not Working

Traffic has become a problem for many metropolitan and even suburban areas. Congestion has become a routine inconvenience for many working people, not to mention the unnecessary green house gas emitted during major traffic jams. Places like Washington D.C. and Dallas/Fort Worth are dealing with wide scale traffic problems. There are a lot of options, but few solutions that can manifest themselves in a practical amount of time. A large majority of American freight is distributed by truck, and considering the trend reflecting some 3 cars per American family, congested roads and stuffy noses are becoming a part of life. In fact, the American standard of living demands such a high amount of resources and energy that it must import drastically more than export, upping the prices on goods and lowering their quality. Some professionals suggest a gradual controlled decline in production should be considered in order to preserve resources, stop traffic and reduce green house effects.

Often the expansions on streets and highways don't keep up with the rising population. This is because the rate of road construction and renovation is running behind the rate of population growth. Traffic gets a little more congested each year, even when construction adds lane after lane. The problem seems to lie in the amount of cars on the road, instead of the highway's breadth. When a thousand cars are driving to a thousand different destinations, a traffic damn is certain to occur. In this way, more emphasis on public transportation may help alleviate these problems. If five cars can become one City bus, set to drop off a collectively accepted point, both green house emissions and congestion could be stunted.

But it's bad to put all the eggs in one basket. It's also important to keep in mind that buses and trains still need a good amount of fuel to operate. If depended on too much the amount of fuel saved may not be worth it. Trampling traffic congestion and carbon emissions at the same time can't be done in full by public transportation alone. The feat will also take a private motivation to promote less stressful roads and much cleaner air. This may be helped along by local level promotions covering the importance of bicycles, renewable energies and possible energy alternatives. France is already on the bandwagon having built hundreds of electronic bike racks that rent out bicycles to anyone with a credit card. Portland, Oregon is state that's been seeing a greater frequency of transit transportation and bike riding. Both trends are positive and prove that work is being done to resolve these issues. As these trends continue, America's leaders and public officials will move toward a greener future with less bumper to bumper headaches.