The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), an organisation created by the Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota Motors, has completed its first project to ease traffic congestion in Bangkok, Thailand.

TMF was created with an objective to address transportation problems in the urban areas and develop solutions for next-generation mobility.

For this project, TMF has provided a grant of THB110m ($3m) to the Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, in order to implement measures that will control and manage the flow of traffic Sathorn Road district of Bangkok, where a variety of factors that have led to heavy traffic congestions.

Toyota Mobility Foundation chairman Akio Toyoda said: "In this project, we have not only been supported by the Chulalongkorn University but also by the city of Bangkok, the local police, citizens and many companies with understanding and great cooperation.

"I am extremely pleased for TMF, which aims to work closely with local communities, to cooperate with efforts by regional entities."

“I am extremely pleased for TMF, which aims to work closely with local communities, to cooperate with efforts by regional entities.

"I would like to make use of the learning through this project for the future activities of TMF and contribute to the development of a more mobile society."

As part of this project, the university team has developed various schemes in order to control the traffic flow, which includes the creation of a Park and Ride system to encourage people to use public transportation.

In order to discourage private cars dropping off and picking up students from the schools, the team suggested an introduction of shuttle bus service to local schools.

The team proposed a new information system through a mobile application will be developed in order to promote the use of the Park and Ride, as well as determine the fastest routes and flexible work hours among local companies in order to reduce traffic.

Other measures suggested by the team included the optimisation of traffic signals using digital tools by the local police, dedicated bus lanes, implementation of no parking zones, and identification of bottlenecks through traffic simulation analysis.

In June 2016, the team implemented these proposed measures during a two-week trial period, as well as some additional measures such as reversible lanes during peak congestion hours and bus stop relocations.