Maybe this will make you feel better about your commute to Seattle
Apr 5, 2017, 1:09 PM | Updated: 1:48 pm
(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.
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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.
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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?
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