US congestion issue unveiled by FHWA

The latest data from the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reveals that traffic congestion is worsening.
June 15, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
RSS

The latest data from the 2364 US Department of Transportation’s 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reveals that traffic congestion is worsening. The research shows that congestion is outpacing system improvements gained from investments in gridlock reduction strategies. Work such as road widening, better intermodal connections and traffic and demand management technologies are not having sufficient benefit. The result is that congestion is getting worse across the US and particularly at peak travel periods.

The FHWA’s 2016 Urban Congestion Trends report is based on data from America’s 52 most populous metropolitan areas. This shows that the average congestion worsened, with drivers spending an additional three minutes stuck in traffic compared to 2015. Some areas did see traffic improvements but these were outweighed by those that areas with worsening congestion and longer journey times.

Congestion got worse during peak hours in 2016, as represented by the Travel Time Index which compares peak hour or commuter travel times to free flow travel times. The index increased slightly to 1.35 in 2016 from 1.34 in 2015, meaning that a trip taking 10 minutes in free-flow traffic would now take 13.5 minutes during peak hours.
Other measures in the report showed a slight improvement, including the Planning Time Index which went from 2.65 in 2015 to 2.62 in 2016.  The Planning Time Index indicates how long a traveller should plan for a trip to ensure an on-time arrival – the worse the traffic, the larger the score.

American cities depend on efficiently moving traffic, and the new data shows the need to invest in technology.

Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New road reduces Carlisle congestion by 20%
    May 11, 2012
    Carlisle, in north-west England, has seen as 20% reduction in congestion since the opening of the city’s US$284million (£176m) Northern Development Route in February this year. Around 10,000 vehicles a day are using the new road, which is broadly in line with the predictions made by highways engineers when building a case to construct a new route connecting the A595 with the M6 around the western flank of the city. Traffic counters positioned on the new road show an average of 9,583 vehicles a day along the
    Read More
  • Freight bottleneck analysis of 250 significant US highway locations
    April 30, 2012
    The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released the findings of their annual report on congestion at freight significant highway locations.
    Read More
  • What kind of future is there for road tolls?
    November 12, 2013
    Hugh Basham, transport strategy and policy director, UK and Ireland, at DHL Supply Chain, enters the ongoing global debate around the use of road tolls Road pricing has always polarised opinion. Whilst road users - who are already struggling to cope with high fuel prices and insurance premiums – may resent the additional expense, environmentalists and frequent drivers often welcome the introduction of tolls as offering an escape from gridlocked roads. Charging to use the road network isn’t a new phenomenon
    Read More
  • A new tolled highway brings change for Austin, Texas
    February 10, 2020
    A new highway section in Austin, Texas marks a major departure for the southern US city
    Read More

Highlighted Content