Return to congestion: the U.S. faces increasing traffic issues

A recent StreetLight Data report reveals that traffic congestion has worsened in nearly every metropolitan area in the country.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, vehicle traffic in the United States experienced a record decline due to stay-at-home orders and the rise of remote work. However, four years later, the situation has become alarming. The report from StreetLight Data shows that traffic congestion has deteriorated in nearly every metropolitan area.

The analysis indicates that, despite the remote work opportunities that emerged during the pandemic, Americans have returned to their previous driving habits, even increasing the number of miles driven. Only in May 2024 did traffic congestion decrease by 0.4% in San Francisco and 0.3% in Albuquerque, while in 98 other metropolitan areas, the situation is worse than it was in 2019.

Traffic congestion in the U.S.: affected areas and solutions

Among the areas most affected by recent traffic congestion, the following cities are highlighted in the StreetLight Data report:

Boise, Idaho
Buffalo, New York
Cape Coral, Florida
New Haven, Connecticut
Lakeland, Florida
Syracuse, New York
North Port-Sarasota, Florida
Bridgeport-Stamford, Connecticut
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, New Jersey
Scranton, Pennsylvania

The report also notes that miles driven per vehicle are at or below 2019 levels in only 13 metropolitan areas, with Los Angeles leading the reductions at a 17% decrease. However, some cities, such as Boise and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, have seen dramatic increases of 58% and 68%, respectively.

Despite reductions in vehicle miles in 18 of the 25 largest urban centers, traffic congestion has improved in only seven of them. Minneapolis tops this list with a 1.5% decrease in congestion.

StreetLight Data suggests that it is essential to reimagine cities and suburbs to promote less vehicle-centric lifestyles, as expanding roadways is not solving the congestion issue. In summary, while the pandemic temporarily altered driving habits, the return to congestion and increased miles driven underscore the urgent need to rethink urban transportation and mobility policies in the U.S.