Traffic Congestion: Trends, Measures, and Effects
PEMD-90-1
Published: Nov 30, 1989. Publicly Released: Dec 22, 1989.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed traffic congestion in large and small metropolitan areas, focusing on: (1) the forces that affect traffic congestion, and how they shape its nature and severity; (2) how the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) measured traffic congestion; (3) the credibility of FHwA urban freeway delay estimates; and (4) whether FHwA measured the effects of traffic congestion.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FHwA, to review and, where appropriate, modify the collection, use, and analysis of traffic congestion data to ensure that accurate statistics on congestion are available for policy decisions regarding freeway mobility. |
Closed – Implemented
Surface transportation was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President in the fall, 1991. This legislation will require the Department of Transportation to develop congestion management systems for monitoring and addressing metropolitan traffic congestion.
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Topics
Comparative analysisComputer modelingData collectionHighway planningHighway researchInformation systemsIntergovernmental relationsManagement information systemsTraffic regulationUrban transportation