Texas A&M’s 2010 Urban Mobility Report paints a grim picture of snarled traffic and wasted fuel in 439 urban centers in the U.S. Consider the following from the report:
In 2009, congestion (based on wasted time and fuel) cost about $115 billion in the 439 urban areas.
3.9 billion gallons of fuel were wasted in the 439 urban areas due to congestion. This amount of fuel would fill 78 super-tankers or 520,000 gasoline tank trucks. The average cost of congestion per auto commuter ranged from $1,166 in the Very Large population group to $436 in the Small population group.
The amount of wasted fuel per auto commuter ranges from 39 gallons per year in the Very Large urban areas to 16 gallons per year in the Small areas. Commuters of 97 areas are “paying” more than $1 per workday in congestion costs; 63 areas have a congestion value exceeding $2 per workday.
The average delay per auto commuter due to congestion in the 439 urban areas is 34 hours. There are 5 urban areas with delay per auto commuter values in excess of 50 hours, showing
the effect of the very large delays in the areas with populations larger than 1 million.
This data speaks for itself and makes a strong case for the increased use of public and active transportation (buses, trains, walking, and biking).