Traffic congestion depends on two factors:

1. The number of vehicles on the roadway, and
2. The amount of roadway space available.

Not only do we live in a fast-growing state and county, but traffic across the United States is growing at an alarming rate. Nationwide in the past 20 years, vehicle-miles of travel have increased 70 percent. In those same 20 years, we have built only 1 percent of additional roadway capacity.

Given the limited resources available for road construction, transportation professionals are turning to both conventional (mass transit) and unconventional (congestion toll pricing, telecommuting) solutions to the traffic crisis.

On the local front, the Indian River County Traffic Engineering Division is constantly monitoring traffic conditions and making timing adjustments to the computerized traffic signal system.