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Worst Car Commutes In The U.S.

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by twittel, Apr 5, 2011.

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  1. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

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    Being stuck in traffic anywhere sucks. Imagine being stuck in traffic multiple hours a day, five days a week. For some of you PriusChatters, it may be a way of life. To figure out who has the worst commute in the nation, the Daily Beast studied and quantified the Top 20 Worst Commutes in America. Here's a link to the top 50:

    50 Worst Commutes: America's Highways to Hell - The Daily Beast

    Factors that went into the list included length of the traffic corridor, longest rush hour travel time along that stretch of road and the time it takes to drive a mile along that stretch during the highest-volume rush hour. They also calculated how much worse a stretch of road is during its worst rush-hour period versus normal driving. California's Delta Highway/CA-4 took that honor handily taking 318 percent longer to travel during rush times.

    The data was gathered from GPS and smartphone tracking of four million vehicles by a company called INRIX, which the Daily Beast compiled into the top 20 list. Now, the top 20 worst commutes in the nation.

    Carolina traffic doesn't even come close to these nightmares!

    Who's thankful for a Prius now:

    1. Riverside Freeway/Calif. Highway 91 eastbound, Los Angeles
    2. Lunalilo Freeway/I-1 eastbound, Honolulu
    3. California Delta Highway/CA Highway 4 westbound, San Francisco
    4. I-95 southbound, Washington, D.C.
    5. Bruckner/Cross Bronx Expressways (I-95 southbound), New York
    6. I-35 southbound, Austin-Round Rock, TX
    7. CT Turnpike (I-95 northbound), Bridgeport. I-405 southbound, Seattle
    9. Bayshore Freeway (U.S. 101 southbound), San Jose, Calif.
    10. Kennedy/Dan Ryan Expressways (I-90/I-94 eastbound), Chicago
    11. I-5 northbound, Portland, Ore.
    12. Calif. Highway 78 eastbound, San Diego
    13. I-494 eastbound, Minneapolis
    14. Southwest/Eastex Freeways (U.S. 59 northbound), Houston
    15. Southeast Expressway (I-93 northbound), Boston
    16. Hampton Roads Beltway (I-64 westbound), Virginia Beach, Va.
    17. Baltimore Beltway Inner Loop (I-695 eastbound), Baltimore
    18. Schuylkill Expressway (I-76 westbound), Philadelphia
    19. North Freeway (I-35W northbound), Dallas
    20. Ventura Freeway (U.S. 101 northbound), Oxnard, Calif

     
    #1 twittel, Apr 5, 2011
  2. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    I've done #4 and #19 and definitely concur. I'm surprised they didn't just list all of Houston.
     
    #2 Mark57, Apr 5, 2011
  3. PriusSport

    PriusSport senior member

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    LA is the worst I've seen. Bumper to bumper six lanes across the highway in one direction.
    76 is bad in Philly because it's only 2 lanes, and traffic growth is way beyond that now.
    It was built for less traffic.

    A lot of roads were built decades ago when there were fewer cars. And the lanes can't be increased on most without great expense (and we all know where the money goes these days). The result is traffic jams.
     
    #3 PriusSport, Apr 5, 2011
  4. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

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    :rockon:Your comments convince me that we can't continue to build more and more highways to accomodate growing traffic volume. It's time our major centers begin planning for mass transit with supporting accommodations, schedules and prices. I also believe that large corporate employers appropriately begin plannning for work at home, or regional offices. I'm a huge advocate for home offices especially using video, internets, extranets, etc. Mass transit is something I would be willing to pay higher taxes whether it be more subs, regional transits, trolleys and trains and so on. We do have commute alternatives besides clogged highways.
     
    #4 twittel, Apr 5, 2011
  5. eagle33199

    eagle33199 Platinum Member

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    13. I-494 eastbound, Minneapolis

    If they think that is bad, they should try heading south down 100 around I-494... much, much worse!
     
    #5 eagle33199, Apr 5, 2011
  6. EVPrii

    EVPrii New Member

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    I used to do the #3 commute every day for almost a year. It got so bad that I had to move out of that region and back to the South Bay.

    I have been stuck in #9 a few times, too. Nasty. I hate HWY 101 in CA. I never take that unless I have to, And will never again in my life take HWY 4. It's almost a joke now on morning traffic to hear about that one getting backed up every morning.

    Love my Prius!
     
    #6 EVPrii, Apr 5, 2011
  7. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

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    Used to do #16 every day, I would not want to see 1-15 given what I know.

    Atlanta isn't much better.
     
    #7 billnchristy, Apr 5, 2011
  8. amm0bob

    amm0bob Permanently Junior...

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    Been there and I agree...
    1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 16, 19 & 20.
     
    #8 amm0bob, Apr 5, 2011
  9. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Works for me. I hate commuting of all types. Well, walking's not so bad, especially when it's only about 10 meters. :D
     
    #9 hyo silver, Apr 5, 2011
  10. Stormtrooper1

    Stormtrooper1 New Member

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    I've done #13, and that road sucks even on a sunday afternoon!
     
    #10 Stormtrooper1, Apr 5, 2011
  11. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Remember #1, Hwy 91 for 2 years Corona/LAX/Corona. 2.5 to 4 hrs to get 60 mi. home on Fri evenings. Went graves first chance on shift bid.
     
    #11 frodoz737, Apr 5, 2011
  12. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    I can concur about LA during rush hour. Heck, it can be congested many hours after rush hour is over.

    Some of the SF Bay Area and Seattle area are pretty terrible in rush hour too.

    The same company as mentioned by the OP has the INRIX National Traffic Scorecard which lists Los Angeles as the most congested metro area.
     
    #12 cwerdna, Apr 5, 2011
  13. EVPrii

    EVPrii New Member

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    I'm just glad to be a Bay Area native. I know all the shortcuts, backroads, and best times to travel. Most people who live is the Silicon Valley are non native. I almost never sit in any traffic anymore...
     
    #13 EVPrii, Apr 5, 2011
  14. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    Was that before or after they completed the 105 fwy?
     
    #14 sipnfuel, Apr 6, 2011
  15. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    Number 15 in Boston I know, but I absolutely adore traffic jams these days. You could rename this list "Top 20 Destinations for Prius Smugness".
     
    #15 mikewithaprius, Apr 6, 2011
  16. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    I've done #9 and #15. 15 is much worse because hey, Boston drivers.
     
    #16 Stev0, Apr 6, 2011
  17. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    During. Remember the movie Speed. They used our parking lot as a staging area while filming. Part of it just opened, but the unfinished bridge they "jumped" was still there when we moved back to TX.
     
    #17 frodoz737, Apr 6, 2011
  18. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    I don't know how people live like that. I moved out of the south for several reasons and traffic was one of them. I couldn't stomach it anymore. I felt like an ant in a container burning my life up behind the wheel.
     
    #18 Skoorbmax, Apr 6, 2011
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i moved 50 miles 25 years ago to a smaller house just to be closer to work and avoid #15 and i have never looked back. the peace of mind will probably add 10 years to my life!
     
    #19 bisco, Apr 6, 2011
  20. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    Yes, that is/was an awesome movie.

    You're stuck on the 91 in traffic. What do you do? What do you do?
     
    #20 sipnfuel, Apr 8, 2011
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