A US city has been crowned the busiest place in the world to drive – and time lost in traffic is costing billions, according to a new report.
New York City became number one on the list for the second year in a row INRIX 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard for the urban area with the worst traffic.
The report analyzed peak speeds and speed data for the world’s busiest commuting corridors and found that drivers in the Big Apple spent a total of 101 hours delayed in traffic last year.
According to the report, hours spent commuting cost the economy $9.1 billion in lost time.
“Traffic congestion is both a curse and a barometer of economic health; they symbolize busy activity, but at the same time hinder it,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. Bloomberg.
New York City ranks number one in the world for the most trafficked city for the second year in a row
“The increase in traffic congestion in urban areas signaled a post-COVID economic revival, but also led to billions of dollars in lost time for motorists.”
Mexico City came in second, followed by London, Paris and Chicago. The ranking was determined based on the influence of congestion relative to population.
According to INRIX, traffic costs the US more than $70.4 billion in 2023 and drivers lost an average of 42 hours due to being stuck in gridlock.
The report shows that trips to downtown Manhattan will increase by 13 percent by 2023, with vehicles traveling at 11 mph during peak morning hours.
“Although traffic congestion is returning to pre-coronavirus levels, we are seeing interesting changes in traffic congestion patterns due to the ongoing impacts of the pandemic,” Pishue said.
“The continuation of hybrid and remote working is creating new travel spikes compared to what we have seen before.”
Drivers in the Big Apple were delayed a total of 101 hours in traffic last year, costing the economy $9.1 billion in lost time
The rankings come just weeks after New York Gov. Kathy Hocul put a screeching halt to the Manhattan congestion pricing plan aimed at easing traffic.
The system, years in the making, was intended to raise billions of dollars that would then fund improvements to the city’s old subways while reducing traffic congestion and air pollution in the downtown core.
The plan would have charged commuters in cars, SUVs and pickup trucks $15 a day to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Trucks would be subject to tolls ranging from $24 to $36, depending on size. And bikers would have to pay a $7.50 entrance fee.
Taxi and rideshare drivers would also have to add $1.25 and $2.50, respectively, to their individual trip totals.
Shortly before the plan was set to go into effect, Hocul tabled it indefinitely, saying now is “not the right time” to impose the sky-high toll on New Yorkers already struggling to make ends meet.