The growing problem of traffic congestion in the Bryan/College Station area received some attention from Congress last Friday as the Transportation Appropriations Committee dedicated $400,000 to the issue as part of a $5.2 million transportation package for Brazos County.
Once approved, the funds will be used by a unique collaboration among TTI, Texas A&M University, the Texas Department of Transportation, Brazos County and the cities of Bryan and College Station as well as the Metropolitan Planning Organization. The partnership will capitalize on TransLink®, an extensive traffic operations research laboratory. The partnership will be able to develop, test, and deploy advanced traffic management concepts and systems to address the problem of congestion and plan for future growth in communities in similar size to Bryan/College Station.
The funds will help the partnership develop advanced traffic management concepts as they relate to small and mid-sized cities. TransLink® Center Director Kevin Balke says the work completed with this project can be beneficial for every city similar in size to Bryan-College Station. “Normally we think of traffic congestion only affecting big cities, but our area has its own specific problems with traffic,” Balke says.
TTI Director Herb Richardson is also excited about the promise of the partnership and is thankful to Congressman Chet Edwards for his efforts in securing the funding. “This innovative collaboration will address future growth and traffic congestion in the area,” Richardson says. “I’m confident that Congressman Edwards’ vision and leadership in helping to develop and secure Federal support for this unique program will pay major dividends for this region. We are grateful for his understanding of how important efficient traffic management is to our economic future.”