Houston Finds Innovative Ways to Reduce Congestion

HOUSTON, Feb. 14, 2005 — -- Houston has been choking on its traffic for years.

"Cars on the freeway block traffic for hours. They should helicopter 'em out and get them away immediately," said one resident.

"Too many cars. What else can you say?" said another.

Houstonians have said for years that traffic is a bigger issue in their city than crime or the economy. The city's mayor, Bill White, practically campaigned on the sole issue alone and won.

"I am going to start with the plans to end this traffic nightmare," said White while on the campaign trail. "Look, millions of Houstonians every week waste hours of their lives stuck in traffic -- 13 hours that could be best spent doing something else. We are going to give back some of those hours to Houstonians."

Houston boasts the most advanced traffic-control center in the country.

Using 400 cameras focused on the city's roads and highways, Houston police and other traffic specialists try to manage traffic rather than have the traffic manage them.

In any major city, a single car breaking down in heavy traffic can create a major problem. Early last month, White implemented an aggressive plan, called the Safe Clear program, to quickly remove disabled cars from the road.

Roving tow trucks contracted by the city stand by to get cars off the highway within six minutes. The tow is free of charge for the first mile if the driver can get the car into the right-hand lane on his own.

The city says the Safe Clear system is a cheaper alternative and lessens the chances of drivers being ripped off by unscrupulous tow companies. But several politicians say it is too tough on the poor.

State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, and some in the towing industry are fighting to overturn Safe Clear.

"We depend on our cars in Houston, Texas, and across this great state," Whitmire said. "If you can safely repair your automobile on the side of the road in a timely fashion, you ought to be allowed to."