Millions of tourists flood Florida roadways every year, in addition to the number of residents that drive to work, school and for recreational purposes. This influx of traffic has led to the creation of multiple traffic problems throughout the state. Several solutions are being posed to Florida lawmakers to help combat these problems, but some of the solutions may not be completed until years from now when congestion problems will likely be worse.
Current Congestion Problems in the State
There are multiple areas in the state that battle congestion problems. The findings from a recent study will be released to the County Commission for the Florida Keys that details information about several congested areas in the state. In particular, the area from Lower Matecumbe Key north to Upper Matecumbe Key suffers from frequent congestion problems. U.S. 1 is also problematic. The average speed on this roadway is 47 miles per hour, according to the URS Corp. report that was presented to the Monroe County Commission. The report also indicates that average travel speeds have deteriorated in 18 out of 24 road-study segments.
Considerations to Improve Traffic Congestion
City and state governments are in the process of considering multiple ways to improve the traffic conditions in the area. The state is participating in a study that will review road conditions throughout the world to determine how cities are dealing with congestion problems. Some considerations are adapting San Francisco’s system, which has parking rates that are correlated to availability, or London’s system, which charges motorists to drive into the center of the city. The federal government has already implemented a program that provides a tax break up to $230 each month for individuals who ride mass transit. Additionally, participating companies can receive up to $100 per employee per year who takes advantage of alternative transportation. Other areas in the state are considering widening roads, adding more turning lanes, consolidating driveways and access roads, limiting the quantity of traffic signals and causing a reduction in wait times at current intersections. I-4 is also expected to be widened. However, not all areas can use wider roads as a solution to congestion problems. For example, Monroe County has a unique set of geographical and environmental concerns that would make widening roads extremely difficult, according to engineers. Notably, the SunRail commuter train is expected to help with some congestion problems by having tracks that run parallel to the interstate. Additionally, using this form of transportation will save commuters money on the cost of transportation.
Potential Timeline for Improvements to Occur
Many of the potential solutions for traffic congestion will take a significant amount of time to complete. The international study could take up to 18 months to complete. The commuter train is expected to begin construction in 2014. The widening on I-4 is also expected to commence in 2014. However, it could take up to seven years before the project can be completed. Many solutions are currently in the process of being considered; however, drivers on Florida roadways should not expect fast changes.
