Can You Solve The LA Traffic Riddle?

LOS ANGELES, CA — "Think you can solve traffic?" will be the first question posed to private-sector companies and entrepreneurs in a series of upcoming forums, Metro announced Wednesday.

"L.A.'s rush hour traffic is a unique problem that requires unique solutions," county Supervisor and Metro board Chair Sheila Kuehl said. "We want to tap private-sector brain power and ingenuity to encourage innovative thinking outside the box."

The first Metro Accelerator Forum Series will include panel discussions on using incentives and/or fees to get more people to consider alternatives to driving or to avoid driving during peak periods, as well as how to use toll roads as one possible way to ease traffic congestion.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE SOLUTION TO LA'S TRAFFIC WOES? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE COMMENTS SECTION

Metro officials said the forums were scheduled in conjunction with a call for solutions from the private sector, which should be submitted for review by Jan. 31. All submissions will be reviewed by Metro's Office of Extraordinary Innovation and an internal panel of Metro experts as part of the agency's Unsolicited Proposal program, which was created in 2016.

More than 110 proposals have already been submitted and 18 are undergoing examination in a Phase 2 analysis, Metro officials said, including a proposed privately funded aerial tram from Union Station to Dodgers Stadium.

"This series will expand our ability to receive and incorporate new and innovative ideas in a timely manner to tackle some of our most pressing issues," Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington said.

The first "Think You Can Solve Traffic?" forum will take place from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 4 at Union Station's Historic Ticketing Hall.

City News Service; Photo: Shutterstock