Traffic Studies and the New I-64

Freakonomics has some links to interesting studies of traffic congestion. The studies indicate that, paradoxically, sometimes a reduction in road options may decrease congestion. I think many St. Louisans would have thought this idea to be insane before the 2008 closing of I-64, when everybody saw the amazing lack of traffic problems that resulted. Now, granted, 2009 has not been quite as easy for traffic in St. Louis as it was the previous year, but it is still far better than anyone could have predicted.