Our roadway network is a critical component in our transportation system, enabling people and goods to move freely throughout our region. In 2008, the TPO conducted a transportation survey of the region and found that 69% of respondents said their primary road to work was rarely congested or usually at the speed limit.
According to the INRIX Traffic 2010 Scorecard, the Jacksonville metropolitan area ranked 58th overall in congestion compared to U.S. metro areas, far better than other areas in Florida.
Even though congestion has not become as serious a problem as in other regions, there are still selected areas with high levels of peak hour congestion. As we continue to grow, so will our levels of congestion. Developing new transportation corridors and expanding existing roadways are some ways to address these future needs. The Transportation Improvement Program lists the progress of roadway projects of the next five years. The 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan lists major long-term roadway projects.
We all know that we can’t build our way out of all congestion. The Congestion Management System identifies congested state roadway segments and corridors, and ways to reduce or minimize congestion that don’t involve building more lanes or adding new roads. Some of these strategies include encouraging alternative commute methods , changing land use requirements, managing access, installing intelligent transportation systems and using toll lanes. The congested corridor list is updated on a five-year cycle with data collection, planning studies, improvement projects and monitoring in the interim.