Urban Mobility Study Illustrates Cost of Congestion

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI) annual Urban Mobility Report was released this week. It details the $121 billion in costs Americans incurred in time and fuel from clogged roads in 2011.  Traffic congestion cost each motorist $818 in 2011 – based on wasted gasoline, lost productivity and increased vehicle maintenance costs. The report goes on to show that commuters spent an average of 38 hours sitting in traffic congestion during rush hour in 2011, up from 34 hours the year before.  In addition, the Planning Time Index, a measure of travel reliability, compares the time an average trip would take in light traffic to the time the same trip would take during rush hour for major metropolitan cities across the country. Washington, D.C. topped the list with a score of 5.72. For example, for a commuter to arrive at their destination on time during rush hour in Washington, D.C., they would multiply the time of the average trip in light traffic by 5.72.  If a trip typically takes 20 minutes in light traffic, it would take over 2 hours during rush hour. According to TTI, the methods and measures developed and used in the Urban Mobility Report have been successfully implemented for policy making and prioritizing congestions-mitigating projects. AGC will continue to use reports such as the Urban Mobility and TRIP Reports in its education of policy makers about the need for a multi-faceted approach to congestion mitigation but one that focus on new construction and added capacity. For more information, please contact Sean O’Neill at (202) 547-8892 or oneills@agc.org.