CHOKEPOINTS

Maybe this will make you feel better about your commute to Seattle

Apr 5, 2017, 1:09 PM | Updated: 1:48 pm

Seattle traffic, transportation...

(AP file photo)

(AP file photo)

While you’re sitting in Seattle traffic heading to or from work and thinking about how miserable your commute is, maybe the knowledge that drivers in other parts of the country have it worse will make you feel better.

RELATED: City employees aren’t all buying into Seattle’s own traffic program

A web-based tool that utilizes census data found that, of the most densely populated cities in the country, Chicago drivers experience the worst average commute times at 32.4 minutes. Philadelphia trails just behind, with an average commute of 31.2 minutes.

Other populous cities with notably high commute times include New York, Miami and Los Angeles.

Of course, Seattle-area drivers shouldn’t get too excited.

According to the latest INRIX traffic scorecard, Emerald City ranked 10th out of 240 cities in the U.S. and 11th out of 310 cities in North America. The city was 23rd overall. The scorecard analyzed congestion in 1,064 cities in 38 countries. It’s worth noting that the INRIX data doesn’t include China.

RELATED: East Link wants kudos for being on budget?

The Kirkland-based company notes that Seattle drivers spent 13 percent of their time in congestion last year. A total of 54.8 peak hours were in congestion.

Los Angeles, according to INRIX, has the worst congestion; drivers spent more than 100 hours in traffic jams last year.

A separate data-driven study released by TomTom ranks Seattle fourth worst for congestion in the country and 53rd worst in the world.

INRIX ranks Seattle just behind Chicago for hours spent in congestion per year. Seattle drivers spent nearly 55 hours in traffic.

So what’s the takeaway from all this? If you are tired of sitting in traffic but don’t want to give up that city lifestyle, maybe it’s time to move to Omaha, Neb. Or how about Oklahoma City?

Chokepoints

Amtrak...

Chris Sullivan

Amtrak opens new Seattle maintenance facility ahead of 2027 schedule

Amtrak has cut the ribbon on its new 100,000-square-foot maintenance facility in SODO, opening a building originally scheduled to debut in 2027.

14 hours ago

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (2)...

Lexi Herda, KIRO 7 News

Expect major delays: Lanes closing on Tacoma Narrows Bridge for extensive repairs

Major lane closures are coming to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, starting this weekend.

19 hours ago

copper wire theft lighting lakewood...

Chris Sullivan

Wire theft knocks out more lighting along I-5 in Lakewood

Here we go again. Thieves who ripped wire from Washington State Department of Transportation electrical boxes impacted drivers in Lakewood earlier this week.

2 days ago

othello crash sr 24...

MyNorthwest Staff

11 injured in work bus, semi-truck crash on SR 24 near Othello

At least 11 people were injured in a "critical incident" after a work bus and semi-truck collision on SR 24 near Othello Thursday morning.

2 days ago

wa toll...

Chris Sullivan

Get ready, drivers: Puyallup to Lynnwood could cost $54 in tolls

We're less than a year from the expansion of the express toll lane system between Renton and Bellevue, marking the start of segmented tolling.

2 days ago

revive I-5 tolls I-405 commute...

Nate Connors

Revive I-5 on Ship Canal Bridge to end 2 months ahead of schedule

WSDOT announced it has moved up Revive I-5's completion date to the weekend of Oct. 30, which is two months ahead of schedule.

2 days ago

Maybe this will make you feel better about your commute to Seattle