Reduce Congestion, Win $50,000

The next time a brilliant idea about how to reduce traffic congestion flashes across your mind, write it down. It could win you $50,000.

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America is challenging commuters, transportation experts, entrepreneurs and academic researchers to come up with the best ideas to reduce traffic congestion and lessen its economic and environmental impact.

At stake is a $50,000 prize presented at the 16th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems in Stockholm, Sweden, this September. The winner will also receive the development support needed to put his or her idea to work.

“We cannot allow congestion to grind cities, suburbs and supply chains to a halt every morning and afternoon,” said ITS America President and CEO Scott Belcher. Congestion costs the U.S. economy more than 1 percent of GDP a year, he said.

“The average metropolitan commuter in the U.S. spends nearly a full work week stuck in traffic each year,” said Belcher, who urged the use of innovative tools, technologies and strategies to better manage transportation systems and use infrastructure more effectively.

Winning ideas are expected to focus on the following five areas:

* Speed and efficiency: Enhancing transportation systems, using technology to reduce delays and transport people and goods efficiently and reliably.

* Behavioral impact: Providing travel alternatives that convince users to choose options that reduce congestion.

* Safety: Preventing accidents, improving incident response and providing more timely, accurate transportation information.

* Sustainability: Lowering energy use and emissions while actively managing traffic and reducing congestion.

* Economic competitiveness: Gaining productivity through new technologies, including wireless applications and mobility tools.

The ITS Congestion Challenge is a partnership between ITS, IBM and Spencer Trask Collaborative Innovations. Additional partners and sponsors include AAA, the American Highway Users Alliance, the Environmental Defense Fund, ITS Sweden and the California and Virginia transportation departments.

For additional information and to enter submissions, visit http://www.itsa.org/challenge.

Contact William B. Cassidy at wcassidy@joc.com.