Some believe that traffic problems in cities can best be resolved by investing in urban infrastructure while others feel there are superior solutions. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Many policymakers feel that the optimal counter to

traffic

issues in urban areas is increased funding for

infrastructure

. In my opinion, though

this

funding may have a marginal effect, there are other, potentially more impactful, regulations. Supporters of investment in

infrastructure

contend it is a direct and pragmatic solution. As

cities

become larger, they face inevitable

traffic

problems caused by overcrowding and deteriorating roads. Improving the existing

infrastructure

can include repaving these roads to reduce accidents and slow driving, building additional public transportation lines for subways, creating biking lanes, widening streets, constructing overpasses, and so on. Combined, the theoretical result of these changes will be an alleviation of

current

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the current

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strain on transport systems.

However

, in practice,

in

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large

cities

such

as New York City, rarely produce any actual difference in

traffic

conditions as they cannot keep pace with growing populations.

Instead

, governments must consider more drastic policies. The

first

such

reform would be to ban or severely limit the use of private vehicles. A good example of

this

would be in certain European

cities

that have enacted

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bans or raised taxes on automobile purchases. Since cars occupy the majority of the space on roads, while often only transporting one or two individuals, they are the least efficient and slowest modes of travel.

Secondly

, governments can subtly shift housing policies to engender dramatic effects.

Instead

of allowing

cities

to build upwards, through skyscrapers and tall apartment buildings, they can limit the number of floors on buildings to encourage a more horizontal cityscape. The result of

this

would be to spread out workplaces and lower congestion levels generally. In conclusion, there is little doubt that improved

infrastructure

could alleviate

traffic

congestion in

cities

to an extent;

however

, the best remedy is to pass laws concerning private vehicles and housing. Governments should implement these long-term policies over short-term fixes.