Cross Bronx Expressway 14 hours a day of congestion

With major airlines and airports on the short list of American travel dislikes, I turned to the roadways, realizing the American’s love for their automobiles, largely fed of course by decades of cheap fuel and wide open spaces.
Now that gasoline prices are on the upswing and expected to be in the $3.30 per gallon range this summer and a growing number of bottlenecks and road works are popping up as a result of stimulus-fed construction projects, vacation travel across the nation should pay attention to where the worst delays in their travels can be expected. And as for daily commuters in these areas, be prepared to spend a lot more of your daily life in your vehicle if any of the following 50 bottlenecks lies in your commute zone.

Inrix, a company specialized in monitoring this type of matrix, identifies traffic congestion by gathering location and speed data from 1.7 million commercial vehicles equipped with GPS tracking devices, as well as from state departments of transportation. By comparing that information–which amounts to billions of data points over 110,000 miles of major highways in the country’s 100 largest census-defined metropolitan statistical areas–to free-flow speeds, Inrix computes its travel time tax. That index represents the percentage increase in travel time that a driver encounters during congested periods compared to travel time at free flow.

Construction had a substantial impact on traffic in 2009. Every new bottleneck in Inrix’s report is construction-related and at least half were related to construction funded by last year’s federal stimulus program, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Traffic Patterns Illustrate Unevenness in Economic Pain

The results of this year’s study illustrate the geographical unevenness of the recession. The Detroit area for example, where the auto industry’s troubles have cut total employment by more than 220,000 jobs since 2007, slipped from 18th to 27th place on Inrix’s ranking of city congestion (the population of its metropolitan statistical area ranks 11th in the country). With fewer workers commuting to jobs, time lost to congestion there fell by more than 30% in 2009.
Meanwhile congestion in the Washington-Baltimore region worsened as commuters drove to new stimulus induced government jobs. That area’s ranking rose to fourth place from sixth last year, and time lost to congestion increased by 10% on a typical trip.

There were no changes in the order of the top three cities–Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago– as bottlenecks there are structural matters of chronic under-capacity. The worst single bottleneck in the country this year was the same as last year’s: New York’s Cross-Bronx Expressway where it meets the Bronx River Parkway at exit 4B, which is congested for 94 hours per week on average or from 6am to 7:30pm as a comparison.

Two big economic drivers influence congestion: Employment and gas prices. Both have seen big swings in the last two years, and through much of the recession, the two factors were opposed. If the economy keeps on a recovery course while gas prices will rise as a result of national and international demand, data for 2010 are likely to stay on the same course as 2009.

Inrix compiles its data in real time to find traffic jams. It also analyzes the data to find patterns in traffic and sends its findings to in-car navigation systems like those in Fords, BMWs, and Volvos, that route drivers around predicted bottlenecks.

Pay attention if you’re traveling in these vicinities and stay away from the major bottlenecks:

America’s Worst 50 Bottlenecks

1. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Penn.
 Worst bottleneck: Cross Bronx Expressway Westbound/Interstate 95 Southbound at Bronx River Parkway/Exit 4B

2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif.
 Worst bottleneck: Hollywood Freeway/U.S. 101 Northbound at Los Angeles St.

3. Chicago-Joliet-Naperville Ill.-Ind.-Wisc.
 Worst bottleneck: Dan Ryan Expressway/Interstate 90/Interstate 94 Westbound at Canalport Ave./Cermak Rd./Exit 53

4. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.V. 
Worst bottleneck: Custis Memorial Parkway/Interstate 66 Eastbound at Virginia 267/Exit 67

5. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas . Worst bottleneck: Loop 820/Interstate 820 Westbound at Rufe Snow Dr./Exit 20

6. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas MSA (Metro Statistical Area)
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -16%
Worst bottleneck: Loop 610/Interstate 610 Northbound at Farm Rd. 1093/Westheimer Rd./Exit 8
Weekly hours of congestion: 22
Average speed when congested: 13.2 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

7. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -6.1%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 238 Northbound at California 185/14th St./Mission Blvd.
Weekly hours of congestion: 68
Average speed when congested: 19.6 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

8. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass.-N.H. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -6%
Worst bottleneck: Southeast Expressway/Interstate 93 Northbound at Morrissey Blvd./Neponset Ave.
Weekly hours of congestion: 43
Average speed when congested: 16.7 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

9. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -8.3%
Worst bottleneck: Washington 520 Westbound at Bellevue Way/Lake Washington Blvd.
Weekly hours of congestion: 33
Average speed when congested: 11.2 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 4 p.m.

10. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Penn.-N.J.-Del.-Md. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +2.4%
Worst bottleneck: Schuylkill Expressway/Interstate 76 Eastbound at South St./Exit 346
Weekly hours of congestion: 45
Average speed when congested: 18.9 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

11. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +5.8%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 75 Southbound at Interstate 85/Exit 103
Weekly hours of congestion: 17
Average speed when congested: 15.6 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

12. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wisc. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -11%
Worst bottleneck: Crosstown Highway/Minnesota 62 Eastbound at Penn Ave.
Weekly hours of congestion: 47
Average speed when congested: 16.8 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

13. Miami Interstate 95 Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +1.1%
Worst bottleneck: Dolphin Expressway/State Route 836 Westbound at 17th Ave. Toll Plaza
Weekly hours of congestion: 21
Average speed when congested: 11.8 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

14. Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Ariz. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -17.3%
Worst bottleneck: Price Freeway/Arizona 101 Southbound at U.S. 60/Exit 55
Weekly hours of congestion: 30
Average speed when congested: 15.1 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Tuesday, 7 a.m.

15. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colo. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +5.7%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 25 Northbound at Lincoln St./Broadway/Exit 207
Weekly hours of congestion: 28
Average speed when congested: 18.9 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

16. Baltimore-Towson, Md. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +11.9%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 695 Southbound at Interstate 70/Exit 16
Weekly hours of congestion: 16
Average speed when congested: 23 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

17. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -19.6%
Worst bottleneck: CA-78 Eastbound at Twin Oaks Valley Rd.
Weekly hours of congestion: 15
Average speed when congested: 20.6 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

18. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +1.5%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 215 Southbound at Blaine St./3rd St.
Weekly hours of congestion: 21
Average speed when congested: 14.7 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

19. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -8.5%
Worst bottleneck: Bayshore Freeway/U.S. 101 Southbound at Story Rd.
Weekly hours of congestion: 18
Average speed when congested: 13.3 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

20. Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, Calif. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +8.8%
Worst bottleneck: Capital City Freeway/Interstate 80 Bus. Eastbound at H St.
Weekly hours of congestion: 23
Average speed when congested: 16.7 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

21. St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +0.5%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 55 Southbound at Poplar St. Bridge
Weekly hours of congestion: 29
Average speed when congested: 18.6 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

22. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -2.2%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 5 Northbound at Marine Dr./Exit 307
Weekly hours of congestion: 21
Average speed when congested: 15.2 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

23. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -2%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 35 Northbound at Riverside Dr./Exit 233
Weekly hours of congestion: 48
Average speed when congested: 17.2 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

24. Pittsburgh, Penn. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +3.1%
Worst bottleneck: Penn Lincoln Parkway/Interstate 279 Northbound at Parkway Center Dr./Exit 4B
Weekly hours of congestion: 40
Average speed when congested: 10.6 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

25. San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +0.1%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 410 Northbound at Macro/Exit 30
Weekly hours of congestion: 15
Average speed when congested: 12.8 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

26. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -16.4%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 95 Northbound at Atlantic St./Exit 7
Weekly hours of congestion: 18
Average speed when congested: 17.3 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

27. Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -31.5%
Worst bottleneck: Edsel Ford Freeway/Interstate 94 Westbound at Trumbull St./Exit 214
Weekly hours of congestion: 16
Average speed when congested: 19.8 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Wednesday, 5 p.m.

28. Kansas City, Mo.-Kans. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +8%
Worst bottleneck: U.S. 71 Southbound at 140th St.
Weekly hours of congestion: 11
Average speed when congested: 20.1 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

29. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -3.1%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 275 Southbound at Ashley Dr./Exit 25
Weekly hours of congestion: 28
Average speed when congested: 17.8 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

30. Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +42.2%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 15 Southbound at Sahara Ave./Exit 40
Weekly hours of congestion: 44
Average speed when congested: 22.9 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

31. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Va.-N.C. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -2.3%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 264 Eastbound at Court St.
Weekly hours of congestion: 45
Average speed when congested: 15.7 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 4 p.m.

32. Birmingham-Hoover, Ala. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +33.1%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 65 Southbound at Alabama 119/Cahaba Valley Rd./Exit 246
Weekly hours of congestion: 15
Average speed when congested: 21.3 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

33. Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -3%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 75 Southbound at Freeman Ave./Exit 1
Weekly hours of congestion: 11
Average speed when congested: 13.3 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

34. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +17.1%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 40 Eastbound at Demonbreun St./Exit 209
Weekly hours of congestion: 11
Average speed when congested: 12.3 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

35. Baton Rouge, La. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -0.2%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 12 Eastbound at Millerville Rd.
Weekly hours of congestion: 18
Average speed when congested: 11.6mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

36. Louisville/Jefferson County, Ky.-Ind. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +40.9%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 65 Southbound at Court Ave.
Weekly hours of congestion: 21
Average speed when congested: 18.5 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Tuesday, 5 p.m.

37. Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, Ohio MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +11.9%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 90 Westbound at Chester Ave./Exit 173
Weekly hours of congestion: 15
Average speed when congested: 14.3 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Wednesday, 5 p.m.

38. Honolulu, Hawaii MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -5.6%
Worst bottleneck: Lunalilo Freeway/Interstate 1 Eastbound at Hawaii 78/Middle St.
Weekly hours of congestion: 34
Average speed when congested: 13.3 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 4 p.m.

39. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -0.8%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 4 Eastbound at Gore St./Exit 37
Weekly hours of congestion: 21
Average speed when congested: 17.1 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

40. Oklahoma City, Okla. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +8%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 35 Southbound at Indian Hills Rd./Exit 114
Weekly hours of congestion: 17
Average speed when congested: 24.9 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

41. New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, La. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -3.4%
Worst bottleneck: Pontchartrain Expressway/U.S. 90 Westbound at Louisiana 428/Toll Booth Plaza
Weekly hours of congestion: 18
Average speed when congested: 11.1 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

42. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Wisc. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -14.9%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 94 Westbound at 26th St./St. Paul Ave./Exit 309
Weekly hours of congestion: 14
Average speed when congested: 17.7 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.

43. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +6.3%
Worst bottleneck: Adirondack Northway/Interstate 87 Southbound at New York 7/New York 2/Exit 6
Weekly hours of congestion: 3
Average speed when congested: 16.4 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

44. Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, N.C.-S.C. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -5.3%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 485 Eastbound at Exit 65
Weekly hours of congestion: 13
Average speed when congested: 17.3 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

45. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Conn. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -7.9%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 84 Eastbound at Sigourney St./Exit 47
Weekly hours of congestion: 21
Average speed when congested: 15 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

46. Salt Lake City, Utah MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +59.1%
Worst peak travel hour: Thursday, 5 p.m.
Salt Lake City has no specific bottlenecks among the worst in the country. Current congestion levels are structural

47. Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, R.I.-Mass. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -10.1%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 195 Westbound at Gano St./Exit 3
Weekly hours of congestion: 23
Average speed when congested: 20.6 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Wednesday, 8 a.m.

48. Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +48%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 69 Northbound at 82nd St./Exit 1
Weekly hours of congestion: 10
Average speed when congested: 21.4 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Friday, 5 p.m.

49. Jacksonville, Fla. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: -7.6%
Worst bottleneck: Interstate 10 Eastbound at Roosevelt Blvd./Exit 58
Weekly hours of congestion: 10
Average speed when congested: 17 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Tuesday, 5 p.m.

50. Tulsa, Okla. MSA
Congestion in 2009 compared to 2008: +50.5%
Worst bottleneck: Cherokee Expressway/U.S. 75 Westbound at 11th St./Exit C
Weekly hours of congestion: 10
Average speed when congested: 22.4 mph
Worst peak travel hour: Wednesday, 5 p.m.

Note: I’m just happy to live on a small island with no need most of the time to cross the bridge over to the mainland. After moving here daily traffic jams were a thing of the past and I am forever grateful.

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