Skip to main content

US capital Washington DC is the country’s congestion capital

A study by the Texas Transportation Institute has revealed that US capital Washington DC now suffers the heaviest congestion of any city in the country. Los Angeles in California and Houston in Texas have both been regarded as amongst the worst in the US in this regard, suffering long traffic delays due to jams, but the report shows Washington DC to be worse still. The Texas Transportation Institute’s Urban Mobility Report paints a damning portrait of congestion in the US capital. The American Road & Transp
February 5, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
A study by the 2347 Texas Transportation Institute has revealed that US capital Washington DC now suffers the heaviest congestion of any city in the country. Los Angeles in California and Houston in Texas have both been regarded as amongst the worst in the US in this regard, suffering long traffic delays due to jams, but the report shows Washington DC to be worse still. The Texas Transportation Institute’s Urban Mobility Report paints a damning portrait of congestion in the US capital. The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) president & CEO, Pete Ruane, commented, “The finding in the Texas Transportation Institute report that America’s transportation network is more unreliable isn’t a surprise to the millions of motorists who slog through bumper-to-bumper traffic in cities of all sizes, or to the businesses attempting to move their goods and services. The real news in the report is the projection that traffic congestion costs will balloon another 65% by 2020 if we maintain the status quo.  The number of hours of lost time will also skyrocket 55%. While we may have to accept deadlocked politicians, there are ways to get Americans moving again.  Robust new investments aimed at creating additional highway and public transit capacity, and providing more travel options could help accelerate economic recovery and better prepare the nation for the 21st century mobility challenges that come with it.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New report highlights transportation need for US
    February 23, 2012
    A new joint report on the US transport sector is highlighting the importance of infrastructure investment for the country's economic growth.
  • ARTBA warns of shortfall in funding for US highways
    February 14, 2014
    According to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), fixing the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) without generating any new revenue will be highly challenging. ARTBA president Pete Ruane told a Senate panel that such a move would require the equivalent of the US Congress passing and the president signing a 2013-level Murray-Ryan budget deal every year. And this would be sufficient just to maintain current highway and transit programme investment levels. According to a new Congressional Bud
  • ARTBA comments on impact of US shutdown for transportation
    October 11, 2013
    American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) president and CEO Pete Ruane has highlighted issues for transport caused by the impact of the US Government shutdown. “Improving the efficiency of the environmental review and approval process was one of the signature achievements of the 2012 surface transportation law—MAP-21. Achieving this goal was a clear priority for members of Congress from both parties and chambers. “Major highway and bridge projects can take between nine and 19 years to
  • Strong response for ARTBA’s student infrastructure video competition
    October 14, 2013
    A very strong response has been seen for the 3rd Annual Student Transportation Video Contest run by the Washington, DC-based American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Illinois high school and University of Maryland college students took top honours in this national video contest on America’s transportation network. The association received more than 40 entries this year in two categories. Sponsored by ARTBA’s Research and Education Division (RED), the contest aims to raise awareness about