According to an annual report released in September by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, the average rush-hour driver in the United States wasted about 26 hours stuck in traffic in 2001, an increase of four hours in the last five years. "Congestion extends to more time of the day, more roads, affects more of the travel and creates more extra travel time than in the past," the study said.
The report, which looked at 75 urban areas, found that:
• The average rush-hour driver in Los Angeles spent about 90 hours waiting in traffic in 2001, more than anywhere else
• The San Francisco-Oakland area was next at 68 hours
• Denver came in at 64 hours
• Miami was a close fourth at 63 hours
• Chicago and Phoenix tied for fifth worst at 61 hours
The study estimated that the congestion cost $69.5 billion in wasted time and gas. Measures such as traffic signals on freeway entrance ramps and traffic signal coordination have kept a bad situation from getting worse, but the study calls for more improvements such as more roads to handle increased demand, additional bus and car pool lanes and adjusted work hours for commuters.