Reducing traffic congestion can have big economic benefits for communities, according to a new study from the Reason Foundation.
Billions of dollars worth of productivity and economic output can be gained through infrastructural and policy changes that reduce congestion, according to the study.
"Most major cities will find that wise infrastructure investments that eliminate gridlock and produce free-flowing road conditions will more than pay for themselves by boosting the region's economy, and thus tax revenues. The study shows that reducing congestion and increasing travel speeds enough to improve access by 10 percent to key employment, retail, education and population centers increases regional production of goods and services by 1 percent. While seemingly small in percentage terms, this leads to tens of billions of dollars for a region's employers and workers due to productivity and efficiency benefits."
FULL STORY: Gridlock and Growth: The Effect of Traffic Congestion on Regional Economic Performance
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research