Traffic is worse now than before the pandemic: Here's where people drive the most
FILE - Heavy traffic on the 580 Freeway in Dublin, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, August 3, 2024. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Traffic congestion and the amount of daily driving in America is worse now than it was before the pandemic, according to a report from Streetlight Data.
The report, which analyzes traffic congestion and VMT (vehicle miles traveled) in major U.S. metros, found that as of spring 2024, the number of miles Americans are driving has jumped – and the increase in VMT in spring 2024 compared to spring 2023 marks the steepest year-over-year increase since the initial pandemic bounce back in 2021.
"While there was some hope that a new remote work culture might keep miles driven down and congestion at bay, StreetLight’s results indicate that the status quo isn’t working," the report says. "A reliance on remote work is not a panacea to the rise in VMT and the default solution for traffic—adding roadway capacity—isn’t solving congestion.
"Without significant changes, the upward trend in VMT shows no signs of peaking."
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New York City saw the biggest increase in miles traveled and congestion over the past five years, while Minneapolis had the biggest decrease in congestion and a 16% decrease in miles traveled.
According to the report, 88 of the top 100 metros in the U.S. showed an increase in VMT from spring 2019-spring 2024. Only four metros saw double-digit decreases.
Congestion is also up in nearly every metro, with only six of the top 100 metros keeping congestion at or below levels seen in 2019, the report found.
US cities where people drive the most
The 10 metros where people tend to drive the most are concentrated in the Southeast, Streetlight found.
"These are places with sprawling geographies and often limited public transit availability," the report states.
The Northeast, Northwest and California ranked as the regions where people drive the least – people in the Southeast drive nearly twice as far as people in those regions.
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California had five cities with VMT below 2019 levels. The only other large city to accomplish that is Washington, D.C.
New York, Washington, and California are home to nine of the top 10 metros with the lowest daily VMT per capita.
US cities with the most traffic congestion
Not surprisingly, Los Angeles ranked worst for overall congestion, despite a decrease in VMT being down.
"While VMT reduction has not yet translated to a reduction in congestion, LA has managed to keep traffic from worsening, unlike most of its peers," the report says.
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New York City, meanwhile, saw its congestion worsen faster in the past five years than the next 47 most populous cities.
San Francisco was ranked as the top metro for congestion reduction while also reducing daily VMT per capita by 13%.