Traffic congestion increases costs to American businesses, workers and families. It increasingly takes more time and fuel to get where we want to go, costing us time and money. As traffic congestion worsens, it will significantly undermine the economic competitiveness of U.S. cities and regions.

Perhaps one reason policymakers have not done more to reduce gridlock is a lack of understanding about how congestion negatively impacts our cities and their competitiveness. What would be the benefits of achieving free-flow travel conditions on a regional scale?

VISIT: Gridlock and Growth: The Effect of Traffic Congestion on Regional Economic Performance

With the economy stuck in a recession and Seattle facing a major budget deficit, a new Reason Foundation report finds that reducing traffic congestion and improving travel times could boost the region's economic output by as much as $13 billion a year.

VISIT: Study: Seattle Could Get $13 Billion Boost by Reducing Traffic Congestion