If you are unfortunate enough to spend time on Columbus roads during rush hour, it should come as no surprise that the city has the worst rush hour traffic delays in the state of Ohio.
The annual Urban Mobility Report by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute found that the typical Columbus commuter spends about 40 hours a year crawling along in backed-up traffic. Those delays hit commuters in the wallet, costing them an extra $60 in gasoline each year.
According to the study released Monday, Columbus drivers face commuting delays about two hours above the national average and rank 25th among the 101 urban areas covered in the report. Using figures from 2011, the report found that a typical 20-minute trip takes about 23.5 minutes during morning and evening rush hours.
In order to ease traffic, the authors of the study said that a mix of these factors are need:
- Better traffic flow
- Road improvements (such as the I-670/I-71 reconstruction and planned I-70 rebuild in Columbus)
- Better mass-transit options
- Telecommuting
Traffic delays can cause commuters to drive recklessly and at higher speeds to try to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, that often can lead to accidents, creating even more traffic slowdowns. No matter how frustrating rush hour traffic may be, there isn't much you can do about it but be patient and be safe.
Source: The Columbus Dispatch, "Columbus commuters tops in Ohio in time spent in traffic," February 6, 2013
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