Congestion levels remained relatively unchanged from 2011 to 2012 in the 19 urban areas in the United States monitored in this report. Congestion levels across all of the congestion measures are still generally below the levels experienced in 2007, prior to the economic down-turn. As the economy improves, increased congestion levels are expected. While congestion levels remained relatively unchanged (or decreased slightly) from 2011 to 2012, the use of congestion-mitigating techniques will become important to manage future increases in traffic and congestion. The use of operational strategies, in particular, provides a toolbox of alter-natives that can be implemented to mitigate growing congestion. Transportation agencies and professionals should use this time to implement operational strategies (and/or fine-tune existing operational strategies) prior to congestion levels likely increasing in an improving economy. The benefits of successful operational strategies are multiple - faster, more reliable trips, improved safety, and reduced environmental impacts. This report highlights several case studies where operational strategies have been success-fully implemented. The first two case studies identify how reporting and monitoring can improve stake-holder decision making. Proactive reporting and monitoring ensure that transportation improvements are designed to get the best return on the investment. (Author/publisher) Visit the Urban Congestion Report website for quarterly congestion trend updates: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/perf_measurement/ucr/index.htm
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