PennDOT is currently working on strategies to help ease roadway headaches which put Philadelphia in fourth place nationwide based on terrible traffic congestion, writes Matt O’Donnell for 6abc.

According to traffic data analyst INRIX, the only cities with worse congestion than Philadelphia are New York City, Chicago, and Boston.

The average driver in the City of Brotherly Love lost 114 hours to traffic congestion in 2022, or more than half an hour per day. Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) is one of the biggest offenders.

“Given the geography of I-76, it’s extremely challenging to do anything with what’s been built already,” said Brad Rudolph, the deputy communications director at PennDOT.

However, some strategies are currently being tested, including variable speed limits with the aim of reducing rear-end collisions.

“We’re in the design phase still on using, like the existing shoulders and existing footprint, to carve out flexible lanes on 76,” said Rudolph.

Another strategy focuses on taking control of the signals regulating traffic along the arterial roads that feed I-76.

“If we can get traffic to move better on those arterials, perhaps we take some of the pressure off mainline 76,” said Rudolph.

Read more about Philadelphia traffic woes and PennDOT’s plans in 6abc.

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