MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle ranks 10th in country for time spent in traffic

Feb 20, 2017, 7:15 AM

Marysville jobs, traffic...

Traffic on I-5 between Everett and Marysville can be rough at any time of day. (AP)

(AP)

Seattle has hit another milestone. It’s now ranked tenth in the country for the amount of time drivers spend in traffic.

According to a new study, traffic is now costing us more than just time spent in our cars.

Seattle now joins cities like LA, New York and Miami in the top 10 most congested in the country, according to a study put out by Kirkland-based traffic group Inrix.

Related: I-405 toll lanes are likely here to stay

They say Seattle drivers spent an average 55 hours last year stuck in congestion, more than 12 percent of the time drivers spend in their cars, costing each person nearly $1,600 a year.

The total impact to the economy is more than $2 billion.

“I think it’s a big deal. For a lot of people, how much time they spend in traffic is one of the biggest challenges they have in managing their day to day life,” said Chris Handley with Inrix.

Meanwhile, Inrix says the worse days for traffic last year were Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.

The lightest days for traffic — Mondays and Fridays – are typically the days most people take off from work.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: On Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced there will be 16 new preschool classrooms across Se...

Julia Dallas

Harrell’s office announces Seattle preschool slots for thousands of kids

Thousands more families will have the chance to start their children's Seattle preschool education earlier, thanks to a program launching.

7 hours ago

Digital...

Micki Gamez

How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

Chances are, if your teen has a cell phone or tablet, they either know someone or they have been the victim of an online sex crime because kids as young as seven are online more than ever. My interest in this story began almost the same time last year when my daughter came home and […]

11 hours ago

Pierce County Jail...

Bill Kaczaraba

Pierce County Corrections chief at odds with the employee guild

The Corrections Bureau's Guild has issued Patti Jackson a vote of 'no confidence,' as reported by The Tacoma News Tribune.

13 hours ago

Image: A Seattle Police Department vehicle seen during the day...

Sam Campbell

Security guard stabbed, suspect barricades inside Beacon Hill apartment

SWAT officers surrounded a complex in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood after police said a man stabbed a guard barricaded himself inside.

14 hours ago

seattle indecent exposure...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle man arrested for 14 counts of indecent exposure, most near schools

A 34-year-old man was arrested by Seattle police (SPD) in connection to 14 counts of indecent exposure near Lake Forest Park.

14 hours ago

Federal Way shootings...

Bill Kaczaraba

Federal Way Police say two shootings are related

Police believe two shootings in Federal Way are related.

17 hours ago

Seattle ranks 10th in country for time spent in traffic