Sec. Duffy Asks Governors to Focus On Traffic Congestion

What’s happening: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to governors April 20 asking them to identify traffic bottlenecks in their states and outline actions to reduce congestion.

Naming it the Freedom to Drive Initiative, Sec. Duffy encouraged “focusing on maximizing roadway capacities, fast-tracking projects that alleviate congestion chokepoints, and leveraging American technology and private-sector partnerships.”

He cited the SR 400 Express Lanes Project outside Atlanta, a major public-private partnership currently garnering national attention, as an example of a worthy project. In August 2025, the U.S. DOT announced a $3.89 billion loan from the Build America Bureau to the project, which is a partnership between the Georgia Department of Transportation, State Road and Tollway Authority, and SR 400 Peach Partners, LLC.

What’s next: Duffy asked governors to submit their list to the Federal Highway Administration within 60 days and said the agency will “support your progress, provide access to additional tools and resources, and recognize meaningful achievements.”