Traffic Congestion
Updated August 2006
Overview
Anyone who has ever been in a car knows that traffic congestion is a problem seemingly everywhere. Traffic congestion delays travelers in the United States an estimated 3.7 billion hours each year, resulting in 2.3 billion gallons in wasted fuel and $65 billion in unnecessary annual costs. What can state lawmakers do? NCSL's transportation program tracks state efforts to mitigate traffic congestion with improved transportation operations and management. Through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), NCSL participates in the National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC) and National Associations Working Group on Transportation Operations and Management (NAWG). To find out more about traffic congestion mitigation techniques, view NCSL's publications or information from other organizations who participate in the NTOC and NAWG.
National Transportation Operations Coalition (NTOC)
Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS)
Transportation Research Board (TRB)
National Association Working Group (NAWG)
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
National Association Working Group (NAWG)
NAWG is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation and national associations of both state and local officials and transportation service providers with a common interest in understanding the concepts, practices and applications of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). NAWG provides the materials needed to enable a broad range of constituents to make informed, educated decisions about ITS. NCSL participates at NAWG meetings and collects information from working group members as part of its cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration. This page includes summaries of NAWG meetings and materials sent from NAWG members.
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NTOC serves as an important foundation for institutionalizing management and operations into the transportation industry. This alliance of national associations, practitioners, and private sector groups represent the collective interests of stakeholders at state, local, and regional levels who have a wide range of experience in operations, planning, and public safety.
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For more than 15 years, ITS America has been the foremost advocate for the development and deployment of intelligent transportation systems in the U.S. Our members include private corporations, public agencies, academic institutions and research centers. While our members have diverse interests, they share a common goal: to improve the safety, security and efficiency of the nation’s transportation system for the traveling public through the deployment of ITS.
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The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is a division of the National Research Council, which serves as an independent adviser to the federal government and others on scientific and technical questions of national importance. The mission of the Transportation Research Board—one of six major divisions of the National Research Council—is to promote innovation and progress in transportation through research. TRB's web site contains information about most transportation topics as well as a transportation newsletter.
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The FHWA's Office of Operations provides national leadership for the management and operation of the surface transportation system. The office is responsible for FHWA's efforts in the areas of congestion management, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Deployment, traffic operations, emergency management, and freight management and operations.
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NCSL Contact
Matt Sundeen
 Transportation page
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