Sept likely to see most traffic jams in Beijing

Beijing traffic authorities have announced a series of measures meant to ease the severe traffic gridlock they expect to see in September, when the capital's streets are usually more congested than in any other month of the year.

The Beijing municipal commission of transport said that data collected from 2009 to 2011 suggest that the city will see its streets clogged by an extraordinary amount of traffic next month, noting that September will bring the start of a new school semester and many visits to relatives and friends in the weeks leading up to the eight-day Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, which will last from Sep 30 to Oct 7.

To diminish the chances of the capital's traffic being heavy next month, the commission suggested that governments at both the city and district levels, as well as public institutions and State-owned enterprises, then avoid organizing large conventions or events. Instead, it asked them to consider holding meeting over the telephone or through videoconferences.

The commission also called on businesses and public institutions to not insist that their employees be in the office at specific hours, especially on days when traffic is likely to be heaviest or when the weather during rush hour is likely to be bad. 

Beyond making those suggestions, the city plans to put more effort in September into forecasting the weather and releasing timely traffic information. It will also move quickly to put contingency plans into effect if roads collapse, bridge culverts flood or other emergencies arise.

The commission said it will strive to ensure there is enough public transport to carry 5.5 percent more passengers this September than in the same month last year. And it hopes to keep the average score on the Traffic Performance Index, which is used to gauge traffic congestion, below 6.0 on workdays during the month.

A score from 0 to 2 on the index indicates that traffic is flowing smoothly, one from 4 to 6 indicates light congestion, from 6 to 8 indicates moderate congestion and from 8 to 10 indicates severe congestion.

At the end of 2010, Beijing took a number of measures to ease traffic congestion. It, for instance, placed limits on how many new vehicles could be registered locally and when cars could be used, as well as increased parking fees and made improvements to public transport.

Those measures are credited with helping to lower the city's Traffic Performance Index score from 6.1 that year to 4.8 in 2011.