Traffic congestion in the United States is nearly as high as pre- levels, according to the latest INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard. The annual measure of congestion by INRIX, a technology company, found 40 percent of the top 25 urban areas in the United States met or exceeded pre-COVID-19 traffic levels in 2023, a relatively surprising trend, given the way that remote work and hybrid work schedules have tamped down traditional commuter patterns. The INRIX traffic report focuses heavily on how much time and economic output is being lost to sitting in traffic.
In the United States, the typical driver spent 42 hours sitting in traffic last year, which had a monetary impact of $733, an increase of $95 year over year, according to the report. “Although congestion is returning to pre-COVID levels, we’re seeing interesting changes in congestion patterns due to the lingering effects of the pandemic. The continuation of hybrid and remote work is creating new travel peaks from what we’ve seen previously,” said Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX, .
When it started to show up on traffic studies four years ago, the bump in midday traffic seemed to be another transportation pattern shaken by COVID-19. The latest INRIX study suggests midday travel peaks may be here to stay. Morning commutes were down 12 percent in 2023, compared to a 2019 baseline, while midday traffic is up 23 percent across the same period.
Another study, the by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, too.
