In 2024, U.S. drivers lost a full work week, 43 hours, due to traffic: 'Driving in New York is particularly challenging,' expert advises.

For yet another year, cities in the United States are among the most congested globally.

The 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard by INRIX ranks the most congested cities in America based on changes in average peak period travel times over more than 22 months.

A recent study revealed that the average American driver loses 43 hours to traffic congestion annually, an increase of one hour from the previous year. This amounts to approximately one full work week and equates to $771 in lost time.

Lost time due to congestion in the U.S. exceeded four billion hours, equivalent to $74 billion.

According to Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX, the 2021 report reveals that congestion levels have returned to pre-pandemic levels, as shown in 2019.

Pishue says that traffic congestion was a major concern before Covid, but it decreased during the pandemic. However, it is now starting to resurface, which is not good, but it shows that we are returning to our previous ways of doing things.

The U.S. city with the worst traffic: New York City

For the second consecutive year, New York City was named the most congested city in the U.S., as per INRIX.

After Istanbul, Turkey, New York City, USA ranked No. 2 on a global scale.

In 2023, drivers in NYC lost 101 hours to traffic jams, compared to 102 hours in the previous year. These delays cost the average driver $1,826 and the city $9.5 billion, according to the INRIX report.

New York City's downtown and congestion rebounded more quickly than other major metros such as San Francisco and Washington D.C., according to Pishue.

"Because of their diverse economy, New York returned to normalcy faster than many other major downtowns. It wasn't just one or two industries that contributed to their quick recovery," he explains.

On January 5, New York City implemented congestion pricing, where drivers entering Manhattan's congestion relief zone south of 60th street will be charged a $9 toll during peak hours and $2.25 overnight.

Pishue says that driving in New York is brutal, and the city acknowledges the congestion in its downtown area. The congestion pricing is an attempt to address the traffic problem.

To decrease traffic, New York City should prioritize building a strong transit network rather than waiting to see if congestion pricing will work.

"If congestion pricing is implemented, it may discourage some trips, which could negatively impact the economy. However, it is important to find a way to accommodate these trips without completely eliminating them. If congestion pricing is not feasible, a robust transportation network should be developed to capture other modes of transit."

Top 10 U.S. cities with the worst traffic

1. New York City
2. Chicago, Ill.
3. Los Angeles, Calif.
4. Boston, Mass.
5. Philadelphia, Pa.
6. Miami, Fla.
7. Houston, Texas
8. Atlanta, Ga.
9. Washington D.C.
10. Seattle, Wash.

After New York City, Chicago was the second most congested city in the U.S. and the third most congested globally.

In 2024, Chicago drivers lost 102 hours of time, an increase from 96 hours in 2023, resulting in a total of $1,826 in lost time. The city's congestion cost $6.6 billion in 2023.

It's not surprising that both Chicago and New York City drivers experienced the same amount of time lost while driving.

"Chicago, being the third largest city in the country, would naturally rank high, but it has more driving than expected for a big metro area," he remarks.

Pishue reports that the Windy City is still experiencing a delay in transit ridership and is actively working to reduce congestion to pre-covid-19 levels.

"As more people return to the office, there could be increased congestion in transportation data, and there are still many unanswered questions about how travel patterns will change in big metro areas when people stop working from home, according to Pischue."

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