American cities have been named the most congested in the world, and a new report says time lost in traffic is costing cities billions of dollars.
New York City has been ranked number one for the second year in a row as the most traffic-congested urban area in the INRIX 2023 Global Transportation Scorecard.
The report analysed top speed and congestion speed data from the busiest commuter routes around the world and concluded that New York drivers spent a total of 101 hours stuck in traffic last year.
According to the report, time spent commuting costs the economy $9.1 billion.
“Traffic congestion is both a bane and an indicator of economic health. It represents vibrant activity, but it also hampers it,” Bob Pichaux, transportation analyst at INRIX, told Bloomberg.
“The surge in urban traffic congestion signals a resurgence of post-COVID economic anxiety, but it has also led to billions of dollars in lost driver time.”
Mexico City came in second, followed by London, Paris and Chicago. The rankings were determined based on the impact of congestion on population.
According to INRIX, traffic congestion will cost the United States more than $70.4 billion in 2023, with drivers losing an average of 42 hours stuck in traffic.
Trips to downtown Manhattan would increase by 13 percent in 2023, with vehicles traveling at 11 mph during morning peak hours, according to the report.
“Crowding is returning to pre-COVID levels, but we are seeing interesting changes in crowding patterns as the effects of the pandemic linger,” Pichoux said.
“Continued hybrid and remote work practices are creating new travel peaks never before seen.”
The rankings came just weeks after New York Governor Kathy Hockle abruptly halted Manhattan’s congestion pricing plan, which was aimed at reducing traffic.
The system, built over years, was meant to raise billions of dollars to be used to upgrade the city’s aging subway system while simultaneously reducing traffic congestion and air pollution in Midtown.
Under the plan, cars, SUVs and pickup trucks who commute into Manhattan below 60th Street would be charged a daily toll of $15. Trucks would be charged a toll between $24 and $36 depending on their size, and motorcycles would be charged a $7.50 toll.
Taxi drivers and ride-share drivers will be required to add $1.25 and $2.50, respectively, to the fare of each trip.
Just before the plan was due to go into effect, Khokal shelved it indefinitely, saying it was “not the right time” to impose exorbitant tolls on already struggling New Yorkers.