Congestion is a condition in the transportation sector where the transportation process or traffic flow is slow. Congestion is normally characterized by several queues and traffic jams. Congestion in most cases results from an equilibrium of travel choices and location with generalized transportation costs, which is determined by the traffic flow and other factors. Congestion has been established to be one of the largest threats that face economic prosperity as well as way of life in many countries. Problems of congestion affect transport networks in several counties, and they assume many forms. Forms of congestion include severe congestion on networks of urban roads as well as major truck roads, chronic congestion on railway lines and roads that serve ports, urban cargo stuck at crowded seaports, recurring congestion at border crossings, trucks installed in traffic, airplanes rotating overcrowded airports among others.
Indeed, the causes of congestion are well understood but I disagree that the solution to congestion is not understood. Rodrigue, Comtois, and Slack (2006) argue that transportation has one specific purpose, which is fulfilling a demand for mobility of moving people, information, and freight around (p.2). Transportation has social, political, economic, historical, and environmental benefits (Rodrigue, Comtois & Slack, 2006, p.4). Therefore, transport congestion can limit such benefits. Rodrigue et al. (2006) identify three spatial physical constraints of transportation, which include topography, hydrology, and climate (p.9). Geographical features such as valleys and mountains affect the feasibility, cost, and structure of transportation networks or systems, which might result in congestion. Precipitation, wind, and temperature are some of the climatic factors that can severely affect transportation. Transportation of passengers as well as freight can be restrained by dangerous climatic conditions such as snow, heavy rainfall, or even fogs (Rodrigue, Comtois & Slack, 2006, p.10).
Several solutions to congestion in the transportation industry have been devised. Rapid technological and scientific developments have been made to reduce or solve the transportation congestion in the industry. There has been rapid development of transportation infrastructure to accommodate more vehicles, trains, and aircraft. Scientific and technological prowess has been used to construct roads, bridges, and airports as well as ports in places that were not easily accessible before, thereby reducing physical constraints or barriers to transportation. The use of such skills has been quite instrumental in reducing congestion; hence it is one of the solutions to congestion in the transportation industry (Rodrigue, Comtois & Slack, 2006, p.11).
Rodrigue et al. (2006) state that speed, economies of scale, expansion of transportation infrastructures, the efficiency of transport terminals, and substitution of transportation by telecommunications are some of the solutions to transportation congestion (17). An increase in speed in the transportation modes is very significant in reducing congestion because it enhances the faster movement of passengers and freight. When this is coupled with increased speed in logics operations, there will be reduced congestion at the terminals and along with the transportation networks. In addition, transporting a large number of passengers and a large amount of freight at a low cost improves the efficiency and capacity of the transport system (Rodrigue, Comtois & Slack, 2006, p.17). Expansion and improving the efficiency of transport terminals at airports and ports have proven to handle large quantities of trucks and aircraft promptly (p.17). The use of electronic mail to transmit information has also played a considerable role in reducing congestion in the transportation industry. Therefore, several solutions to congestion have been understood, documented, and implemented to reduce congestion in the entire industry.
Reference
Rodrigue, J., Comtois, C. & Slack, B. (2006). The Geography of Transport Systems. London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group.