Traffic congestion is not just bad for the environment, it is surprisingly expensive. Wasted fuel, lost worker productivity, and higher cost of transportation in congested areas cost the U.S. $305 billion in 2017.
Almost a third of all greenhouse emissions in the U.S. come from the transportation sector. The transportation sector is also responsible for 55% of nitrogen oxides in the air, the leading contributor to smog, acid rain, and adverse respiratory effects. But the damage is not just to the environment. Drivers stuck in traffic experience higher levels of stress and aggressiveness.
An average two-tonne car is 80% empty when driven by a single person. Considering that 85.3% of Americans commute with their own vehicle and the majority travel alone, traffic jams are a result of inefficient use of roads. Just one full bus, for comparison, can take 40 cars off the road, reduce traffic congestion, and emit less harmful pollutants.
Many cities introduced a single ticket to make commuting across an interconnected system of buses, trams, and trains more convenient. Adding further incentives for travelers can get car drivers to switch to a more sustainable form of transportation.
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