Here Are The 10 Most Congested Cities In America

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute has released data from its annual Urban Mobility Scorecard, which indicates how long commuters spend sat in traffic over the course of a year - the results are shocking
Here Are The 10 Most Congested Cities In America

If you drive to work every day, there’s a very good chance you spend a lot of your time crawling along in traffic. With the world’s population booming and our road networks barely evolving to keep up, it’s no surprise to learn that we’re spending more and more time sat in traffic. That’s the finding of the latest Urban Mobility Scorecard, created by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which analyses the trips we take by car to track how our driving behaviours are changing.

Scanning through the report makes for depressing reading. Between 2013 and 2014, 95 of the 100 largest urban areas in America saw increased traffic congestion, with Americans travelling an extra 6.9 billion hours because of heavy traffic. When compared to taking their commutes in light traffic, congestion meant they also wasted an average of 19 extra gallons of fuel each and, in the largest cities, spent an average of 63 extra hours behind the wheel each year.

Here Are The 10 Most Congested Cities In America

The evening rush hour around 6pm is typically more congested than the morning rush hour, with 1am to 6am being the best time to travel. Traffic was unsurprisingly much lighter at weekends, with Friday being the most congested day to travel.

So which American cities are guilty of subjecting their inhabitants to the most severe congestion? Here are the worst culprits:

  1. Washington DC - 82 extra hours in traffic in 2014
  2. Los Angeles - 80 extra hours
  3. San Francisco - 78 extra hours
  4. New York City - 74 extra hours
  5. San Jose - 67 hours
  6. Boston - 64 extra hours
  7. Seattle - 63 extra hours
  8. Chicago - 61 extra hours
  9. Houston - 61 extra hours
  10. Riverside-San Bernadino - 59 extra hours

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Comments

BMW fanboy

Dang I live in the DC area Beltway traffic is HORRIBLE during rush hour but I would think New York or LA

12/29/2015 - 16:25 |
0 | 0

I could see NY traffic being worse but I’ve driven in LA and it’s a breeze compared to the DMV area.

12/30/2015 - 06:11 |
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Andrés Cely Herazo

In America? For sure they haven’t been in Mexico City or BOGOTA or Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires…

12/29/2015 - 16:27 |
23 | 0

Come to DC at any time between 6AM and 7PM or come near a holiday and jump on the beltway from NOVA to southern MD and you will not move for HOURS

12/29/2015 - 16:30 |
3 | 1
Joe

I Work just off the beltway in DC… It is terrible 99% of the time.

12/29/2015 - 16:27 |
4 | 0
car_addict29

Toronto (I know they’re canadian): 120 extra hours

12/29/2015 - 16:45 |
0 | 0
MASM

Well if I lived in those cities I probably would buy motorcycle

12/29/2015 - 16:54 |
0 | 0
Banana Split

In reply to by MASM

Lane splitting is only legal in California.

12/29/2015 - 21:51 |
0 | 0
Delightful Citizen (Classic Truck Squad)

I almost had a panic attack while visiting California when I got stuck in LA traffic. I come from a small town- our definition of a traffic jam is about 10 cars. It freaked me out to be sitting in solid traffic for an hour and not being able to see where it ends..

12/29/2015 - 17:01 |
2 | 0

Looks like you’ve had a taste of what i do 5 days a week. 30 miles from home to work takes me at least an hour and 15 minutes unless it’s during winter break or summer. Then it can be between 45 mins to an hour. Either way, it’s no fun when you have the amazing visibility in a BRZ

12/30/2015 - 04:45 |
1 | 0
Max Caplan

D.C I KNEW IT! Haha!!

12/29/2015 - 17:02 |
0 | 0
YoungPetrolhead

I’ve got a solution, everyone buy MOTORCYCLES!

12/29/2015 - 17:39 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I live in SJ, and travel to SF every other weekend, and visit friends who live in LA. I have turned into traffic.

12/29/2015 - 17:53 |
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Anonymous

Really surprised Atlanta isn’t on there.

12/29/2015 - 17:59 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Same here, it’s horrible

01/01/2016 - 07:59 |
0 | 0