When it came to the amount of time the average commuter spent stuck in traffic in 2022, Chicago topped the list in a study of U.S. cities. The Twin Cities was far down the list, ranking 32nd (ranked 283rd worldwide).
The study was conducted by the traffic data firm Inrix, where Bob Pishue works as the transportation analyst.
He said the number of hours that the average Chicago-area driver was stuck in traffic delays while commuting rose by about 50% in 2022, and it was about 7% higher than before the pandemic.
The Twin Cities rose 47% between 2021 and 2022, but is still down a massive 49% since 2019. The cost of congestion per driver is estimated at $446 with 26 hours per driver lost stuck in that traffic.
Compared to Chicago, however, the Twin Cities got off very easy.
“What we found is that the typical commuter in Chicago paid $242 more last year for fuel than in 2021, simply to go the same distance, so it definitely hits the pocketbook,” Pishue said.
The study also estimates the additional time commuters were stuck in traffic cost the Chicago-area's economy about $9.5 billion. Drivers lost an incredible 155 hours stuck in traffic.
Pishue added that the way bad traffic grew in Chicago was different than in other American cities, including the Twin Cities.
“In a lot of American cities, we saw the morning commute come back, and that is no different in Chicago,” he said. “But what we saw in Chicago was actually that the afternoon commute was up more, even, than the increase in the morning commute.”
The study also blamed the rise in commuting delays, in-part, on a slower rebound in people opting for mass transit following the pandemic.
Chicago and Miami were the only American cities that have increased from 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels. Boston, New York and Philadelphia are the cities ranked behind Chicago for the worst delays in the country. London is ranked number one overall with 156 hours per driver lost to delays.
See the results of the entire study here.
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