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Tag: traffic congestion

  • Where does the DC region rank in traffic congestion worldwide – WTOP News

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    The D.C. region was ranked in the top 20 for worst traffic congestion in the world, according to a recent report on traffic data.

    The D.C. region was ranked in the top 20 for worst traffic congestion in the world, according to a recent report on traffic data.

    The report, titled the 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard, examined 942 urban areas worldwide. It concluded that the D.C. region ranked 19th in the world and eighth in the United States in terms of congestion. On average, D.C.-area drivers lost about 70 hours in congestion, the report said.
    Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, told WTOP that the D.C. region is part of a worldwide trend of growing congestion in urban areas around the world.

    “Traffic is increasing in general,” Pishue said. “A lot of urban areas are still growing in population, and growing in business and the economy, and the infrastructure is always playing keep up. Especially now (in) a tough time. … We can expect traffic to continue to get a little bit worse.”

    The time spent in traffic also means money lost to those stuck in it. According to the report, a D.C.-area driver loses an average of $1,289 sitting in traffic.

    “In D.C., the cost is probably higher,” Pishue said. “That’s because you could be spending your time with friends, with loved ones, at work, at some other purpose that you would rather be doing, other than just sitting in traffic.”

    Two area highways also ranked among the study’s top 25 busiest corridors. Listed at No. 21 was a stretch of Interstate 495 between Clermount Avenue in Montgomery County, Maryland, and the Interstate 295 interchange. Travelers driving during the 4 p.m. peak hour would lose about 64 hours to traffic congestion.

    The northbound portion of the Anacostia Freeway between the I-695 interchange and the Maryland border at 4 p.m., ranked no. 22.

    Micromobility may be a remedy

    Those living in the District have turned to some solutions to the traffic, specifically the expanded focus on micromobility, or the use of bikes, e-bikes and electric scooters. The report found D.C. reported a 48% increase in the use of these vehicles.

    “While this growth is suitable for those trying to move around the city, especially downtown, it wouldn’t make a dent in helping those commuting from their suburban homes to work in urban areas, which is the typical congestion drivers deal with,” Pishue said.

    Working from home and mass transit can help

    According to U.S. Census data, 13.8% of U.S. workers worked from home in 2023 — more than twice the 5.7% in 2019, despite declines from its COVID-19 pandemic peak.

    “Despite the drop, working from home and changing trip times can help reduce traffic on the road,” Pishue said.

    Another alternative for those looking to avoid congestion is using mass transit. While it won’t solve many traffic problems, it can help travelers avoid sitting on packed highways when commuting in urban areas.

    “Transit nationwide is still down about 20% versus pre-COVID level,” Pishue said. “It’s been a slow return, not like driving or the explosion from working from home. So, transit still has a little bit of catching up to do.”

    Other cities have seen growth in the use of autonomous vehicles as another solution for drivers looking to avoid getting stuck in traffic. Robotaxi service Waymo added D.C. to its list of cities to expand to in 2026 as it is currently mapping out streets and corridors for its upcoming service.

    Getting involved

    The purpose of the report was to provide road authorities, transportation planners, engineers, policymakers and the public the traffic data to prioritize solutions that best fit their respective areas.

    While lawmakers consider expanding roads and highways, the cost realities may play a factor in what to prioritize. The data provided in its report can help move some resources to other areas of need, whether that is improving traffic lights or creating efficient parking spaces.

    “We look at 900 cities, dozens of countries, but really the main takeaway from this is congestion continues to grow,” Pishue said. “(In the report,) You can see if it went up … see if it went down and then dive deeper to really get into it.”

    Pishue recommends drivers concerned about the amount of traffic they see get involved with local neighborhood groups.

    You see the report online on INRIX’s website.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Jose Umana

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  • Advocates renew push for congestion pricing

    Advocates renew push for congestion pricing

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    BOSTON — Transit advocates are renewing a push for congestion pricing along the state’s toll roads with new polling data suggesting support for the move among voters.

    A MassINC poll released this week found that voters are getting squeezed by a double whammy of housing costs and transportation issues that have some considering leaving the state. Majorities of those polled said they are getting squeezed by both housing – 71% – and transportation costs at 57% with a shocking 38% saying they will move out of state, according to the poll.

    But pollsters said 50% of those who responded to the survey want the state to study initiatives such as congestion pricing, where tolls are lowered during off-peak times and raised during rush hour to encourage drivers to use public transportation.

    Transit advocates jumped on the poll’s findings to argue that voters want the state to revisit congestion tolling in the greater Boston region to reduce traffic congestion and tailpipe pollution.

    “With a dire budget shortfall when it comes to transportation, we need a mix of solutions and funding sources to ensure our system works for everyone – and isn’t a crushing financial burden for people across our state,” said Reggie Ramos, executive director of Transportation for Massachusetts.

    “Congestion pricing should definitely be on the table as one of those solutions we need to explore,” he said.

    Massachusetts has a backlog of maintenance on roads and bridges estimated at $50 billion — a figure compounded by a decline in federal highway dollars.

    Currently, the state only charges drivers on the Tobin Bridge, at two tunnels beneath Boston Harbor and along the Massachusetts Turnpike, which converted to all electronic-tolling several years ago.

    Beacon Hill leaders have resisted adding more toll roads to the mix, or increasing fees, fearing public backlash over the pocketbook impact on constituents.

    Congestion pricing has also been controversial in other states, including New York, where Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul recently put the brakes on a “first-in-the-nation” plan that called for charging motorists an extra $15 to drive into New York City.

    Backers of the plan, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, argued the move would reduce traffic, congestion and tailpipe pollution while raising billions of dollars to support the city’s public transit system.

    But the plan was facing several legal challenges, including one by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who called the new toll charges a “cash grab” that would hurt New Jersey commuters.

    Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • Ranking quicker, cheaper fixes to Northern Virginia’s congestion woes – WTOP News

    Ranking quicker, cheaper fixes to Northern Virginia’s congestion woes – WTOP News

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    A group that helps develop Northern Virginia’s long-term transportation plan has ranked projects that offer cheaper fixes in terms of traffic congestion relief.

    Alexandria’s Smart & Connected Vehicle Infrastructure plan would aim to reduce congestion on Route 1. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

    Construction projects to improve commutes for drivers in Northern Virginia typically take a lot of time and money. But a group that helps develop the area’s long-term transportation plan has ranked projects that offer the biggest bang for the buck in terms of traffic congestion relief.

    The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority will present its ranked recommendations Thursday, for funding nearly $700 million in projects to advance the region’s multimodal transportation network.

    With nine counties and cities, as well as Virginia Railway Express seeking pieces of the funding pie, the most expensive slice is $210 million for Fairfax County to improve Route 7 between the Beltway and Interstate 66.

    However, the transportation authority also ranks the projects that would bring the most congestion relief for the least money.

    At the top of the column labeled Congestion Reduction Relative to Cost — or CRRC — the City of Falls Church Signal Prioritization Project ranks No. 1.

    The focus of the city’s plan is on Route 7, also called Broad Street, in Falls Church.

    Five intersections on Route 7, and two on nearby Washington Street, would be outfitted with technology called Transit Signal Priority. With the technology, sensors on transit buses communicate with traffic signals, to make green lights longer and red lights shorter, as the bus approaches an intersection.

    In its proposal, the city said the Transit Signal Priority technology “improves transit options and operations, without taking up additional space on the roadway or right of way.” With a project cost of $1.4 million, it would start in 2028.

    The second-highest-ranked project is the City of Alexandria’s Smart & Connected Vehicle Infrastructure plan.

    The Alexandria plan focuses on the Potomac Yard area. On Route 1 and near the new Metrorail station, a network of sensors, edge servers and a data management system would facilitate communication “with human-driven motor vehicles and autonomous shuttles.”

    The technology would help ‘smart’ driven and autonomous vehicles “optimize their approach speed at intersections, reducing stopping time and congestion on heavy traffic corridors.”

    In addition, camera and LIDAR detection could help warn compatible vehicles when a pedestrian or other vehicle is dangerously entering an intersection.

    With a request of $5 million, the project ranks second in the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority’s list of most cost-effective safety and congestion relief projects.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Neal Augenstein

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