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SALT LAKE CITY -- A nonprofit think tank says Utah could boost its economic output by up to $700 million a year by cutting back on traffic congestion. The Reason Foundation has been studying metro areas surrounding eight cities in the United States including Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, Salt Lake City and others.
The report says a key is to reduce traffic congestion around universities, suburbs, and retail centers.
Trucker Mike Barnes, based out of Pleasant Grove, says he knows his work is affected by traffic slowdowns. He's been losing money while hauling gravel around northern Utah County.
"Yesterday it cost me at least one load, which right there is 250 bucks. That's not counting time, fuel and anything. That's just money right there," said Barnes.
The report says decreasing traffic congestion by 10 percent can boost productivity by 1 percent. That, in turn, can equal millions of dollars.
Of the cities studied, the Salt Lake metro area had the fewest congestion problems.
To read more about the report, CLICK HERE.
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
