Traffic congestion is a daily reality that tests residents’ patience in certain United States cities. Nobody enjoys long traffic queues. When traffic builds, drivers not only lose valuable time but also spend more fuel.
To understand the extent of this challenge, transportation company INRIX determined the US cities with the most congested traffic.
They used diverse traffic datasets and shared their findings in their Global Traffic Scorecard report. This report highlights where traffic causes headaches for commuters across the US.
These are the ten locations where drivers face the most significant delays and costs, according to their report:
10: Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is described as a big city with abundant urban sprawl. According to the INRIX report, tons of commuters travel in and out of the city each day, a factor that contributed to Atlanta landing in the top ten for the highest traffic congestion in the country.
9: Houston, Texas
Deep in the heart of Texas, drivers in Houston are likely to become gridlocked on the road. Houston broke the top ten for highest traffic congestion in the country according to the INRIX report. Congestion in Houston cost the average driver $1,257 in 2022.
8: Washington, DC
The Nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., is home to rich history. However, driving around town is described as certainly no casual commute.
According to the INRIX report, Washington, D.C., drivers accumulated an average of $3.5 billion in total traffic congestion costs in 2022.
7: San Francisco, California
Another big city in the Golden State made the list for heavy and costly traffic congestion: San Francisco.
Home to the Golden Gate Bridge, this picturesque city, according to the INRIX report, racked up $8.6 billion in traffic congestion costs in 2022.
6: Los Angeles, California
The most populous city in California also ranks high on the list of American cities with the most traffic congestion. Los Angeles reportedly cost the average driver $1,601 sitting in traffic in 2022.
5: Miami, Florida
Miami is described as a bustling city. According to INRIX’s report, drivers there will spend extra time and money in traffic compared to many other cities in the US.
The “Magic City” has become 30% busier on the roads than pre-pandemic levels and has more traffic congestion and delays now than before COVID.
4: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philly is an American city with distinct charm. The major Pennsylvania city came out in the number four spot for traffic congestion according to the INRIX report.
Congestion is costly in Philadelphia, costing an average of $1,925 per driver and totaling $4.5 billion for the city in 2022. Drivers might burn gas commuting downtown if they want to indulge in a cheesesteak.
3: New York City, New York
New York City is a place of “bright lights, big city,” but it also contends with tons of traffic congestion. INRIX’s report shows NYC drivers losing 117 hours to traffic delays in 2022.
This cost the average driver $1,976 in 2022. Cumulatively, this totaled a whopping $10.2 billion in congestion costs for the city in 2022.
2: Boston, Massachusetts
Following Chicago on the list is Boston, Massachusetts. Well-known for its vibrant culture and spirited residents, Boston earned the second spot specifically for its “wicked” congested traffic conditions according to the INRIX report.
1: Chicago, Illinois
Taking the top spot for the US city with the highest traffic delays is Chicago, Illinois. Home to iconic hotspots like “The Bean” and Wrigley Field, Chicago came in second globally for terrible traffic, surpassed only by London, United Kingdom.
According to INRIX’s report, Chicago drivers lost 155 hours in 2022. Chicago experienced more traffic congestion and delays in 2022 than before COVID.
Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX, stated to CNBC that this increase was based on Chicago travel patterns and reflected “a lot of people get back into their cars”.
Alicia Richards