Abstract
In 2010, traffic congestion cost commuters in the U.S. approximately $101 billion in lost time and wasted fuel. Local governments and transportation agencies have used a variety of mitigation strategies to reduce the cost of traffic congestion. However, many of these mitigation strategies can be equally as costly to implement, maintain, and administer. With the federal government, and many local and state governments facing large budget deficits and dwindling tax revenues, it is imperative that these governments pursue mitigation strategies that are most cost effective. This thesis examines five traffic congestion mitigation strategies ranging from expanding roadway capacity to using toll-ways, to determine which ones are most and least cost effective. Using quantitative regression analysis, interviews with transportation policy and decision makers, and criteria alternative matrix analysis, I ranked each traffic congestion mitigation strategy from least to most cost effective, based on three cost criteria. I found that ramp metering was by far the most cost effective strategy, followed by toll-ways. Meanwhile, I found that expanding transit capacity was the least cost effective of the five strategies. As a result of my findings, I made three policy recommendations: Make full use of ramp metering, convert underutilized High Occupancy Vehicle lanes with High Occupancy Toll lanes, and expand roadway capacity only after more cost effective mitigations strategies have been exhausted.