solving+traffic+congestion+nikhild

What alternative solutions might an economist suggest to the problem of traffic congestion? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these solutions?

There are many methods that a government can implement to reduce traffic congestion. Because traffic leads to a loss of valuable time for individuals on the road and creates excess pollution as cars run for longer on the roads, it is an undesirable product of transportation, yet one that is not so uncommon. Economists may suggest various solutions; the more direct ones being improved infrastructure, taxation on the use of roads through tolls, and public transport. Improved infrastructure or the building of more roads is a viable option in many cases as seen in Dubai, UAE. The primary disadvantage of building new roads and bridges is the mere cost of it. Roads, bridges, intersections with traffic lights etc. are all projects that cost a lot. At the same time they take up parts of the government’s time, leaving them with fewer resources to implement in other areas of the economy. However, the prolific aspect to improved infrastructure is that it is a long-term solution to successfully reducing traffic and instilling order, and one that can benefit everyone in society rather than a select few as some of the other methods if there are no tolls. If governments do decide to charge taxes for utilization of a bridge or road then they can earn revenue while at the same time reducing traffic, as transport becomes more expensive and certain individuals will have a great enough incentive to use another route. An example of this is the Salik toll in Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road, which has directed traffic towards Emirates Road. If the tax is too great however, too many individuals may not wish to use the road and traffic might just develop in another part of the town. At the same time if the tax is too low it may have too small of an effect to solve the problem of congestion. Public transport such as trains and buses that involve transporting large amounts of people without contributing much to the traffic as less vehicles will be used, is another example of a solution. Economists may suggest the need for efficient and active public transport. Like infrastructure it is an expensive and time-consuming solution, that doesn’t provide an immediate answer, as the facilities have to be build. However, it can entice people to partake in alternate methods of transport that reduce pollution and traffic. It is also a long-term solution and one that can improve with time as the government continues to understand the system better. Economists may also suggest a more indirect and less common method of placing high taxes on the purchase of cars or creating quotas on the number of cars people are allowed to own. As a result the number of cars bought should decrease and in turn so will traffic. Although this may be a very effective method as it essentially reduces the quantity of cars and gives people a great incentive to not buy a car, it does have an negative impact on the market for cars as producers and importers will lose business and be forced to cut down on supply. These methods are all viable solutions to counteract the issue of traffic congestion.