NPR

As Lockdown Orders Lift, Can Cities Prevent A Traffic Catastrophe?

As businesses reopen, many city dwellers worry about the risks of public transit. Cities are trying to figure out how to safeguard public health, keep people moving, and avoid a gridlock nightmare.
The city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus first began to spread, is pictured on May 14. Many Chinese cities have seen rush hour traffic return to pre-pandemic levels — or worse — after reopening, according to traffic data company TomTom. Cities around the world are trying to figure out how to avoid disastrous gridlock as residents resume travel while avoiding public transit.

Over the last few months, cities have had to deal with tremendous challenges — fighting a pandemic, preserving essential services, protecting their own workers, coping with devastating budget cuts.

One thing local officials didn't have to worry about was traffic, as the pandemic emptied city streets.

But that's about to change.

Many city dwellers, trying to maintain social distance, are continuing to avoid public transit. If they replace bus or subway trips with car rides, congestion could grow dire.

Eve Strother, a lawyer in Boston, says she won't be getting on the T anytime soon. She's worried about being close

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