Controlling Urban Congestion

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that roadway congestion is a significant problem for nations with an active motorist population, especially in urban areas. The writer points out that traditional efforts to combat congestion have typically focused on increasing capacity through increases in roadway infrastructure. The writer then claims that research has shown, however, that these methods are ultimately ineffective for controlling congestion and its associated ills. Economists have long seen the value in associating usage costs with roadways in order to control congestion and encourage more efficient resource use. The writer relates that with technology finally catching up to this ideal, roadway-pricing schemes are becoming more popular in cities throughout the world. The writer concludes that a consideration of the pros and cons of pricing strategies implemented in London and Stockholm, and proposed in New York City, reveals that while there is still significant political and public resistance, the strategies are effective at achieving their stated goals.

Outline:
Introduction
The Myriad Negative Effects of Persistent Congestion
Why Congestion Continues Despite Increased Expenditures on Highway Infrastructure
Variable Congestion Pricing as a Viable Solution
Schemes to Alleviate the Problem of Urban Congestion
London: a System at Work
Stockholm: a Seven-Month Experiment Ready for Implementation
New York City: Public and Political Resistance
Schemes for Controlling Roadway Congestion
Analysis of the Costs and Benefits
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"Congestion, both in urban centers and on connecting highways, has become a major problem for the transportation networks of cities throughout the world. In the world's major metropolises, the issue has become particularly acute, with congestion having profound negative effects on air quality, travel time, the cost of goods and services, and the general livability of cities. Congestion problems are literally becoming a liability for these cities. As the pressure of congestion increases, the capacity of a given city to function effectively is greatly diminished, resulting in hidden and overt costs for individuals, businesses, and public resources. The net effect, then, of congestion has been consistently deleterious."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Abboud, Leila and Clevstrom, Jenny. "Stockholm's Syndrome: Hostages to Traffic, Swedes Will Vote on High-Tech Plan to Untangle Snarls with Tolls." Wall Street Journal 29 Aug. 2006: B1.
• Cervero, Robert. "Road Expansion, Urban Growth, and Induced Travel: A Path Analysis." APA Journal 69.2 (Spring 2003): 145-163.
• Chan, Sewell. "Driving around Manhattan, You Pay, Under One Traffic Idea." The New York Times 11 Nov. 2005. 23 Apr. 2007 <http://www.itdp.org/PR/NY_congestion.html>.
• Hensher, David A. and Puckett, Sean M. "Congestion and Variable User Charging as an Effective Travel Demand Management Instrument." Transportation Research 41 (2007): 615-626.
• Lindsey, C. Robin and Verhoef, Erik T. "Traffic Congestion and Congestion Pricing." Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper. Amsterdam: Tinbergen Institute, 2000.

More papers on Controlling Urban Congestion:

• Essay # 83495 : "Urban Planning: Ebenezer Howard"
• Essay # 4947 : "Third World Urban Crisis"
• Essay # 1104 : "The Problem of Traffic Congestion"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: