Statistics show that traffic congestion in the U.S. is getting worse. According to a recent report by the Texas Transportation Institute, the average commuter spends 47 hours per year in traffic delays, compared to 16 hours in 1982. Every year, engines idling in traffic jams waste an estimated 2.3 billion gallons of fuel.

The White House has proposed to Congress a plan to invest a record $284 billion in road and transit projects over six years. The proposal specifically seeks to relieve gridlock, but does not include plans to raise the gasoline tax.

We asked residents and commuters in three cities with some of the worst traffic—Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York—the following question: “What should be done about the U.S. traffic problem?”

“The most practical thing is some sort of urban planning. Cities [should] limit the building of new houses far away from downtown.” —Vincent Kirkpatrick, 22, senior at University of Calif., Los Angeles

“We should create more incentives for carpooling and vanpooling.” —Lorraine Day, 55, Hypnotherapist, San Francisco Area

“You could do what we do [in the Philippines]: people with odd [numbered] license plates can only drive on certain days, and people with even [numbered] plates can drive on the other days.” —Alex Ng, 31, computer programmer, New York City.

“Alternative transportation, like buses and light rails and trains, [would relieve congestion] if people could get to work with them and do all the chores they normally do with a car.” —Brian Lesser, New York City

“Obviously we need more roads and wider roads. And smaller cars.” —Phillip Hvasaia, 41, taxi cab driver, San Francisco