US CITY HAS WORST TRAFFIC IN THE WORLD AND IT'S COSTING RESIDENTS $9BN
An American city has been crowned the most congested place to drive in the world - and according to a new report, the lost time stuck in traffic is costing billions.
New York City placed number one for the second year in a row on the INRIX 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard for the urban area with the worst traffic.
The report analyzed peak speed and free-flow speed data for the busiest commuting corridors around the world and determined that drivers in the Big Apple spent a total of 101 hours delayed in traffic jams last year.
The hours spent commuting cost the economy $9.1 billion in lost time, according to the report.
'Traffic congestion is both a bane and a barometer of economic health; it symbolizes bustling activity yet simultaneously hampers it,' Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, told Bloomberg.
'The surge in traffic congestion in urban areas indicated a revival of economic hubbub post-COVID, but it also led to billions of dollars in lost time for drivers.'
Mexico City came in second, followed by London, Paris and Chicago. The rankings were decide based on the influence of congestion relative to population.
The traffic cost the U.S. more over $70.4 billion in 2023 and drivers lost on average 42 hours stuck in gridlock, according to INRIX.
The report found trips into downtown Manhattan increased by 13 percent in 2023 and vehicles drove at a speed of 11 mph during peak morning hours.
'Although congestion is returning to pre-COVID levels, we're seeing interesting changes in congestion patterns due to the lingering effects of the pandemic,' Pishue said.
'The continuation of hybrid and remote work is creating new travel peaks from what we've seen previously.'
The rankings come just weeks after New York Gov. Kathy Hocul put a screeching halt to the Manhattan congestion pricing plan that was aimed at reducing traffic.
The system, which has been years in the making, intended to raise billions of dollars that would subsequently fund improvements for the city's old subways, while simultaneously decreasing midtown gridlock and air pollution.
The plan would have charged commuters in cars, SUVs and pick-up trucks $15 a day to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Trucks would have been subject to tolls ranging rom $24 to $36 depending on size. And motorcyclists would be facing a $7.50 fee to enter.
Taxi and rideshare drivers would also be required to add $1.25 and $2.50, respectively, to their individual ride totals.
Shortly before the plan was set to go into effect, Hocul tabled it indefinitely saying that now is 'not the right time' to inflict the sky-high tolls on New Yorkers who are already struggling to make ends meet.
Read more 2024-06-26T05:08:34Z dg43tfdfdgfd