America's Most Congested Cities

[Jasman0717 9]

Lauren Sherman, Forbes.com

Feb 26th, 2009

Commuters in these cities understand the meaning of ''traffic jam'' all too well.

Stefani Cole spends much of her day in traffic.

For two years, the 26-year-old marketing associate commuted from her home in Long Beach, Calif., to her job at a radio station in Burbank. The 40-mile drive takes about 45 minutes without traffic but averages between two to two-and-a-half hours during rush hour.

"I would try to get to the office early and work later so that I would miss the major traffic," says Cole. "But if there was a wreck or something, forget it. It was going to be bad no matter what."

In September 2008, Cole decided enough was enough. She packed her bags and moved to Burbank. She now lives just eight miles from work. Her commute, however, is still 25 to 30 minutes. That shouldn't have come as much surprise, since the roads of Los Angeles are the most congested in the country.

That was the case last year, and is again this year, according to Kirkland, Wash.-based research firm Inrix, which provides real-time, historical and predictive traffic information to television stations and other groups across the U.S.

Following L.A., to round out the top five, are New York, Chicago, Dallas and Washington, D.C.

Behind the Numbers

To determine America's Most Congested Cities, Inrix collects data from nearly 800,000 anonymous, GPS-equipped commercial vehicles that report their speed and location continually to Inrix. The company then processes and blends other relevant traffic-related data such as road sensors, toll tags, traffic-incident data and other resources to figure out when, why and for how long particular roads experience bottlenecking.

The worst hour for travel in Los Angeles, on average, is Thursday at 5 p.m. In New York, the second-worst city for congestion in the country, it's Friday at 5 p.m. Like L.A., Chicago and Washington are at their worst on Thursdays at 5 p.m., while Dallas, like New York, is most congested on Fridays at 5 p.m.

But the devil really isn't in the details; it's unsurprising that these cities come out on top when it comes to congestion. The top four spots on the list also have the largest populations in the country: Los Angeles--12.9 million; New York--18.8 million; Chicago--9.5 million; and Dallas--6.2 million.

What is surprising, however, is that every single city on our list of 20 saw a decrease in congestion over the 2008 calendar year. Some of the cities with the largest decreases in traffic include Riverside, Calif.--which saw congestion drop by 57% --and Detroit, where congestion was whittled by 47%.

Slow Economy, Faster Commutes

That has a lot to do with high gas prices and the recession. Since the recession has affected nearly every corner of the country, congestion is down across the board. Americans drove 3.8 billion fewer miles in December 2008 than they drove in December 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Even Los Angeles--a city known as well for its treacherous 10-lane highways as for its abundance of movie studios--felt some relief at the beginning of 2008, with congestion down 24% from 2007.

Riverside was hit incredibly hard by the subprime mortgage crisis--the median home price in the area has plummeted 55% over the last 18 months--meaning more of the city's residents were struggling to pay their bills. Filling up a gas tank is one of those expenses.

Detroit, of course, has been heavily affected by the fall of the U.S. auto industry. A lack of employment results in a lack of the need to drive.

"There was definitely a point last year when more people were carpooling and traffic died down a bit," says Cole. However, as gas prices have decreased (currently down to $1.99 a gallon at some stations in Los Angeles from $4.60 in June 2008), traffic has increased yet again. But regardless of how cheap gas is, job loss makes fueling up an expensive proposition.

"We're seeing economic impact across the board," says Scott Sedlik, vice president of marketing at Inrix. "Traffic is a great indicator in terms of keeping the pulse on [a city's] economy."

There are some cities, however, that have made a concerted effort to reduce congestion, independent of the economy. Atlanta, for example, saw a 36% decrease from 2007 to 2008 because of government-funded initiatives such as suburban park-and-rides. These allow those who live outside of the city's boundaries to park cheaply in a lot and take public transportation to the office.

Places like New York, however, are short on new options: Subways and buses are already filled to capacity. That's why officials like New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg are lobbying for a new "congestion" tax--which will require citizens to pay for the privilege of driving in crowded zones of Manhattan.

Congested as a city might get, however, it's not necessarily the sort of thing that pushes commuters to relocate altogether. Moving to another city costs money, and that's not something most people have a lot of right now. Even Cole, who moved closer to work because of her frustration with traffic, says she wouldn't give up on Los Angeles for an easier commute.

"I've lived in Southern California for eight years, and you just learn to manage it," she says. "Everyone works around the traffic."

In Pictures: America's Most Congested Cities

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

you city folks enjoy

[NickD 203]

you city folks enjoy

Was wondering about those two guys that commuted 40 miles to sit in front of a PC on top of the WTC during 9/11. 80 miles a day just to sit in front of a PC? Some investment firm as I recall, must be arrogance when all they need is a computer and a telephone to do their jobs. Chicago is that way today, one big office, has to be a better way.

Wife was on the road at least four hours a day, sometimes a lot longer with demonstrations or rain causing landsides driving into Caracas. Dang, I had to fall in love with her and spent many a night worried sick. Their phones, internet, or electricity would go out and days would pass before I knew she was alright. Glad that is all history. I take her to work today so she doesn't have to walk three blocks in the ice cold, a four minute drive, six with ice and snow.

Was nice with $4.30 a gallon gas last year at this time, left two hours earlier because of Milwaukee traffic for biometrics, but we got there two hours early, wasn't any traffic. Couldn't believe I was driving 55 in a 55, normally it's just 5.

[Jasman0717 9]

I only had to commute for 1 year during my entire career and I don't know how people can do it. I am fortunate to live 3 miles from work

[Nagishkaw 510]

That always helps.

[almaty 19]

commute suxs..but living in missouri would sux even worse...

[Jasman0717 9]

I used to drive 50 miles to work in less than an hour when I was living in western Colorado which was about half the time it took me to drive half the distance when I was commuting here. Ugh

Edited March 2, 2009 by jasman0717

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I live and work on the same side of town - never need to get into the actual rush hour traffic. My 11mi one-way commute takes 20min regardless of the time of the day. There are five STOP signs and five red-lights between home and office. Hardly ever any back-up on any of the intersections.

[Jasman0717 9]

I live and work on the same side of town - never need to get into the actual rush hour traffic. My 11mi one-way commute takes 20min regardless of the time of the day. There are five STOP signs and five red-lights between home and office. Hardly ever any back-up on any of the intersections.

I think I have about 10 traffic lights to contend with on my commute now so it usually takes about 20 minutes no matter what time of day. Of course I can do it in about 5 minutes at night

[Peikko 1,575]

I only had to commute for 1 year during my entire career and I don't know how people can do it. I am fortunate to live 3 miles from work

, however, do you drive to work, or use alternative energy like I do

[Jasman0717 9]

I only had to commute for 1 year during my entire career and I don't know how people can do it. I am fortunate to live 3 miles from work

, however, do you drive to work, or use alternative energy like I do

I am planning on riding my bike this spring, just want to get out of the rainy months

[Peikko 1,575]

I only had to commute for 1 year during my entire career and I don't know how people can do it. I am fortunate to live 3 miles from work

, however, do you drive to work, or use alternative energy like I do

I am planning on riding my bike this spring, just want to get out of the rainy months

that'll give you a pizza day on a Friday for sure

[one...two...tree 2,762]

After commuting from Orange County to LA for over a year and a half (over 100 miles a day during the week), I've gotten used to it. The traffic most of the time is not too bad, and I now have a GPS, so when the freeway is really bad, I can find alternate routes.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I am curious as to why people need a car to drive 1/4 of a mile to buy cigarettes.

[Mags 112]

I am curious as to why people need a car to drive 1/4 of a mile to buy cigarettes.

Cause they can't breathe from smoking too much!