Cities are the hubs of modern economies, driving innovation, commerce, and culture. But as urban populations grow and daily travel demand increases, harmful greenhouse gas emissions are set to rise as well.
With more workers returning to offices, cities urgently need to optimize mobility and reduce congestion-related emissions. Without bold action, inefficiencies in urban transportation will continue to contribute to worsening air quality.
The good news? By leveraging Transportation Intelligence—including data from connected vehicles/devices, AI-powered insights, and cloud-based analytics, —cities can take a smarter approach to reducing emissions, optimizing traffic flow, and making urban mobility greener and more efficient.
The Price of Idle Time:
How Traffic Congestion Drives Emissions
Traffic congestion is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in urban areas. Every day, millions of vehicles sit idle in traffic, burning fuel and releasing emissions. Studies show that:
- In 2024, drivers in the most congested cities spent an average of 150 hours stuck in traffic, leading to substantial increases in CO₂ emissions.
- An idling vehicle emits 20+ pounds of CO₂ per gallon of fuel burned, contributing to poor air quality
- Idling at traffic signals contributes to nearly 28 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually in the U.S., underscoring the environmental impact of inefficient intersections.
- By reducing idle time by just 10%, cities could cut CO₂ emissions by tens of thousands of metric tons annually.
The Last Mile Dilemma:
How Parking Chaos Fuels Urban Congestion
One of the most overlooked contributors to urban emissions is the “last mile”—the final leg of a trip where drivers navigate congested city centers, often searching for parking or designated loading zones. Studies indicate that:
- 30% of urban traffic congestion is caused by drivers circling for parking.
- Trucks and delivery vehicles spend an average of 28% of their time in cities searching for a legal loading zone, leading to illegal parking and increased emissions.
- Parking-related congestion contributes to unnecessary CO₂ emissions, with inefficient curb management resulting in prolonged idling and wasted fuel.
Teaming Up for Greener Cities:
How Public/Private Partnerships Are Driving Change
Reducing urban transportation emissions takes more than just local action—it requires collaboration between cities, private companies, and federal policymakers to accelerate real, scalable change. Over the past four years, the U.S. has made significant strides in fuel efficiency standards, electric vehicle (EV) adoption, and clean energy initiatives, all of which help cities transition to greener transportation networks.
At the federal level, stronger emissions and fuel economy standards are pushing automakers to produce cleaner vehicles, while EV incentives and infrastructure investments are making electric mobility more accessible:
- The strongest passenger vehicle standards in American history will increase average fuel economy to 49 miles per gallon by 2026, reducing emissions from gas-powered vehicles.
- Federal targets aim for 50% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030, with tripled EV adoption since 2021, thanks partly to tax credits and charging infrastructure expansion.
The U.S. has set a goal for 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035, ensuring EVs become even cleaner as the grid transitions to renewables.
Smarter Solutions for Smarter Cities:
The Role of Transportation Intelligence
Setting ambitious targets is only half the battle—cities need accurate, real-time data to track the progress of these initiatives, measure their impact, and make adjustments as needed.
That’s where Transportation Intelligence solutions can play a key role. By transforming data from connected vehicles/devices into actionable insights cities can:
- Quantify the emissions reductions from EV adoption, traffic signal optimization, and congestion pricing programs.
- Measure the effectiveness of shared mobility initiatives, ensuring new e-bike, e-scooter, and car-sharing programs are actually reducing personal vehicle use.
- Use predictive analytics to determine where infrastructure investments (like EV charging stations or bike lanes) will have the biggest impact on emissions.
Reducing Climate Impacts Starts at the Intersection
Optimizing Traffic Flow with INRIX Signal Analytics
One of the biggest opportunities for reducing transportation emissions starts where vehicles spend the most time waiting—at intersections. Poorly timed signals lead to stop-and-go traffic, excessive idling, and unnecessary delays, all of which waste fuel and increase emissions.
Every second a vehicle spends idling at a red light contributes to unnecessary emissions and fuel consumption. With INRIX Signal Analytics, cities can turn every intersection into an opportunity for emissions reduction, fuel savings, and improved mobility.
- Reduce congestion-related emissions by optimizing green light timing, cutting unnecessary stops and idling.
- Prioritize where signal timing adjustments are needed most—targeting high-impact intersections for maximum results.
- Identifying and fixing inefficient traffic signals with real-time data.
- Reducing unnecessary stops and idling, cutting CO₂ emissions at intersections.
- Helping agencies track performance and prioritize signal timing adjustments where they have the biggest impact.
Studies show that optimizing traffic signals can reduce delays by up to 40% and cut emissions by 25%, making this one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways for cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Quantifying Impact with our Free “Green Calculator”
Sustainability initiatives are only as strong as their measurable impact. The INRIX Green Calculator helps cities track emissions reductions in real-time, giving transportation professionals the insights they need to make informed decisions and report progress accurately.
- Measure the CO₂ impact of traffic signal optimization and other transportation strategies.
- Compare pre- and post-implementation emissions reductions for initiatives like congestion pricing, signal timing, and EV infrastructure.
- Showcase quantifiable results to policymakers, stakeholders, and the public to drive continued investment in sustainable solutions.
The INRIX Green Calculator turns sustainability goals into hard data, making it easy for cities to prove their progress and refine their strategies.
Optimizing the Last Mile with INRIX Curb Analytics
Cities are evolving, and so is how we use the curb. Parking spaces, loading zones, bike lanes, and bus stops all compete for the same space—leading to double-parking, circling vehicles, and unnecessary congestion. INRIX Curb Analytics helps cities rethink curb management with with real-time curbside usage data, allowing agencies to:
- Get data-driven parking insights to understand occupancy and efficiently manage curbspace for parking, deliveries, public transportation, and micro-mobility corrals.
- Optimize loading zones for delivery vehicles, minimizing illegal parking and idling.
- Streamline curb space allocation for ride-hailing services, public transit, and micromobility options.
With INRIX Curb Analytics, cities gain real-time visibility into how curb space is being used—and can make data-driven decisions to improve mobility, reduce congestion, and cut emissions.
Managing Micro-mobility and Shared Mobility with INRIX Ride Report
New shared mobility options— like e-bikes, e-scooters, and car-sharing services—have the potential to replace short car trips, reduce emissions, and create a more efficient transportation network. But without clear insights, cities struggle to integrate and regulate these services effectively.
Ride Report provides transportation agencies with the data they need to optimize shared mobility programs, allowing cities to:
- Monitor shared e-bike and e-scooter usage trends to ensure new mobility options are accessible and effective.
- Measure the impact of shared mobility programs on personal vehicle usage and carbon emissions.
- Optimize infrastructure planning by identifying the best locations for bike lanes, scooter hubs, and transit connections.
By combining vehicle data with mobility insights, INRIX helps cities maximize the benefits of shared transportation, ensuring micro-mobility works in harmony with the broader transportation ecosystem.
Final Thoughts:
The Future of Urban Mobility Starts Now
Cities have a massive opportunity to reduce transportation emissions—but they need the right tools. By leveraging Transportation Intelligence solutions and taking advantage of public/private partnerships, cities can make meaningful progress toward cleaner, more efficient mobility.
At INRIX, we’re committed to helping cities harness data-driven solutions to tackle congestion, improve mobility, and create a more sustainable future.
The time for action is now! Ready to make an impact?
Contact us today to learn more or request a free demo. Let’s build cleaner, more connected cities—together.