Tags: commuting, public transit, ridership, transportation system

Washington DC Traffic Ranked Second Worst in the US

Traffic can be a daily nuisance. It's a daily challenge that people commuting need to go through morning and afternoon. It causes stress, hinders the environment and even costs more than using public transportation.

Washington DC Traffic Ranked Second Worst in the US

Published: 04/05/2024

Traffic can be a daily nuisance. It's a daily challenge that people commuting need to go through morning and afternoon. It causes stress, hinders the environment and even costs more than using public transportation.

According to a survey in 2023, Washington DC ranked as the second city in the nation with the worst traffic. This survey is called the Tom Tom index, which features 387 cities across 5 countries on 6 continents.

In the survey, the Washington DC area is ranked #2 in worst traffic in the US; and #55 in the world. There are still a lot of commuters who prefer to use their personal vehicles, despite the wide array of multimodal options of transit.

It is estimated that drivers in the DC area lost up to 86 hours stuck in traffic in 2023. Depending on the distance from work to their home, they might be able to use public transit and potentially save commute time. Certainly, the stress from being stuck in traffic can be saved by opting for commuting by bus or train.

Financial Costs

Financially, avoiding traffic and switching to public transit can be beneficial. According to a report from the American Public Transport Association (APTA), people who ride public transit can save an average of $13,000 annually. This includes a purchase or lease of the vehicle, maintenance and fuel costs. In the DC area, there is also the cost of public parking if their employer does not offer free parking; an additional cost that must be considered.

Public Transit

Public transit is still recovering from the lower ridership these past 4 years since the pandemic started. During the pandemic, many workers had the ability to work remotely. Others switched to using their personal vehicles in order to avoid contact with other people in public transit.

Currently, public transit ridership is slowly increasing; and with this recent survey placing Washington DC as #2 in worst traffic, it will make commuters consider other transportation options.

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