Seattle region’s traffic is 9th worst
February 25, 2010
By Ari Cetron
New: Feb. 25, 2:22 p.m.
Yes, that feeling you have the traffic here stinks is correct. But things have gotten better in recent years, largely due to the poor economy. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area had the ninth worst traffic in the nation, according to a recent study released by Inrix, a company which provides traffic and navigation services. The area ranks 15th in population.
The study notes that while traffic is still bad, in much of the nation congestion levels have dropped to below what they were four to five years ago.
“If you have been fortunate enough to stay employed, your commutes have most likely improved,” the study says.
The worst traffic in the nation is in Los Angeles, followed by New York and Chicago. Those areas have held those positions for the past four years
The Seattle area has held steady in ninth for the past three years, according to the study.
The study ranks state Route 520 between Bellevue Way and Lake Washington Boulevard (the floating bridge) as the 70th worst bottleneck in the nation. The worst is the Cross Bronx Expressway in New York.
The worst time to be on the road in the Seattle area is Friday at 4 p.m., according to the study. At that time, travel times increase by 40 percent.
The company also calculates what it calls a Travel Time Tax, which measures the amount of additional time a trip takes because of traffic.
In 2009, that amount was 18.5 percent, so drivers spent 18.5 percent more time on the road because of traffic than they would have if conditions had been free-flowing.
However, this marks a steep drop from 2006, when that number was 29 percent.
Nationally, Inrix attributes this drop to fuel prices and the deteriorating economy. While those are factors here, the company specifically praises the Washington Department of Transportation and says that part of the reduction in the Seattle area is the result of the department’s focus on reducing bottlenecks.
The study notes that while the drop was steep, it seems to have hit bottom. The study says it is likely that this is as good as traffic will get. How quickly it starts getting worse will largely depend on speed of an economic recovery.
To read the study, visit www.scorecard.inrix.com.
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