What does the future hold for ramp metering?
A. Mn/DOT will continue to try to strike a balance between safety, efficiency and public consensus. Changes may be made from time to time as the department learns what impact modifications have on specific locations and system wide. Ramp meters are not a long-term solution to congestion. In 1982, according to the Texas Transportation Institute, the Twin Cities area was the 43rd most congested region in the country. By 1997, the area had moved to 14th or 19th, depending on the survey used. Projections indicate that congestion continues to accelerate and the region continues to grow. Policy-makers need to look at long-term solutions that will require investments in roads as well as more transportation choices.
