We measure traffic in minutes lost, but the real cost is measured in billions of dollars. Congestion acts as a hidden tax on the economy. When a plumber is stuck in traffic, they can see fewer clients. When a delivery truck is delayed, supply chains tighten. According to data from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, the average American commuter loses nearly $1,000 a year in wasted fuel and time.
This economic "driver" is what finally pushes governments to invest in smart infrastructure. From "congestion pricing" in places like London and New York to synchronized traffic signals that use AI to stay green for platoons of cars, we are learning that we cannot build our way out of traffic. We have to "price" our way out of it, treating road space as the finite, valuable resource that it truly is.
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