Even with all the necessary major highway and road improvements in place, our region would still face periods of gridlock that could undermine our economic success. Our region's expected growth over the next two decades will only escalate the pressures on our highway systems. We cannot build our way out of future traffic congestion. Specifically, our geography severely limits our capabilities; the Atlantic Ocean to the East prevents a true urban loop system and the series of rivers and marshes represent costly obstacles to cross with more bridges.
We need a new way of thinking to attack our public transit needs. We should borrow experience from other coastal communities that are doing the best job in moving citizens from home to work and back again. We should study how public opinion towards public transit has changed in those areas, causing behavior change and public support for transit options. We should look at transportation from the airport to main regional hubs, light rail or dedicated bus lanes, Ride Share plans, ferry service and, of course, designated bike lanes.