The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched the Freedom to Drive initiative, a program intended to allow states to collaborate with USDOT on tackling increasing congestion corridors across the country.

In a letter to Governors, DOT has requested that Governors identify two to five of their states’ worst congestion bottlenecks and outline actionable steps to address them.

The programs developed by the Federal Highway Administration include management of non-recurring traffic issues such as work zones, traffic incidents and weather-related issues; and recurring traffic issues, including corridor and demand management, and traffic signal timing.

The Freight Management and Operations Program at FHWA includes emphasis on freight analysis, infrastructure, use of technology, professional development, and truck size and weight issues (although the agency has not committed to prosing any specific increases in current truck size or weight limits).