Annual Study Shows Traffic Troubles Getting Worse

Despite slow growth in jobs and travel, traffic congestion continues to worsen, researchers say. The 2005 Urban Mobility Report, published by the Texas Transportation Institute, shows traffic congestion growing across the nation in cities of all sizes, consuming more hours of the day, and affecting more travelers and shipments of goods than ever before.

The report measures traffic congestion trends from 1982 to 2003, reflecting the most recent data available.  The 2005 edition of the Urban Mobility Report concludes that congestion costs Americans $63.1 billion a year and if today's higher fuel prices are factored in, the cost jumps another $1.7 billion. 

The TTI study ranks areas according to several measurements, including:

• Annual delay per peak period (rush hour) traveler, which has grown from 16 hours to 47 hours since 1982,
• Number of urban areas with more than 20 hours of annual delay per peak travleer, which has grown from only 5 in 1982 to 51 in 2003,
• Total amount of delay, reaching 3.7 billion hours in 2003, and
• Wasted fuel, totaling 2.3 billion gallons lost to engines idling in traffic jams.

"Congestion is a complicated issue and can't be solved with one approach nationwide," says Tim Lomax, study author and research engineer at TTI.  "We need to think about how policies and programs enacted at the federal, state and local levels affect congestion."

The TTI study and policy recommendations underscore the argument for the policies supported by Go21.  Dramatic increases in freight shipments will continue and will exacerbate highway congestion if nothing is done.  Go21 is working to support policies that expand freight rail hauling capacity, which would benefit taxpayers, highway users (including truck drivers),shippers, and consumers alike.  To get involved in promoting solutions to America's congestion problems, click here.

For more information on TTI's study . . .

Click here for the Texas Transportation Institute's 2005 Urban Mobility Report.

Click here for the Key Mobility Measures, 2003, including annual delays per traveler.

Click here for Components of the Congestion Problem, 2003 Urban Area Totals, including excess fuel consumed and congestion cost.

Click here for Trends—Annual Delay per Traveler, 1982 to 2003