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Traffic study says road congestion cost U.S. $121 billion

GasBuddy Blog -- When you read how much money Americans waste by sitting in traffic it might make your blood boil. And it might make you push your state legislators to fight for the appropriate infrastructure investment financing your state needs to get us moving again.

The report from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute earlier this week says traffic congestion costs drivers $121 billion. We spent 5.5 billion additional hours sitting in traffic in 2011, the year covered by the study. That comes down to $818 per commuter in lost time and wasted fuel.

And where would you think the problem is the worst? Los Angeles? New York? No, the worst metro area for traffic congestion is Washington, DC. And I'll bet you that city, probably...


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Submitted Feb 07, 2013 By: PD
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Author Topic: Traffic study says road congestion cost U.S. $121 billion Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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USMCturtlehead
Champion Author Lexington

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Points:99,700
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Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 12:44:07 AM

Freeways and streets cannot be built to eliminate traffic congestion from rush hour or unseen incidents such as accidents and snow storms. Waste is a byproduct of everyday costs.
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Chris46
Champion Author Dayton

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Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 9:21:59 PM

I could have told them that, and saved them a lot of money.
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moose21040
Rookie Author Baltimore

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Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:46:05 AM

Do you think this was worth spending are tax money on????
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 6:02:30 AM

how much did the study cost taxpayers?
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LuckyLou1
Veteran Author Colorado

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Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 3:49:11 PM

Sit back and smell the roses
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sydb7
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 8:05:26 AM

Most people would rather complain than use public transit where it is available! Enjoy your traffic jams as you inefficiently have one driver per car!
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EvPv
Champion Author Maine

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 7:02:09 AM

agreed coughlin. I have relatives on Long Island crabbing about the price of gas, yet NEVER use the LIRR or bus system. When I lived down there we did it all the time. The busses go past very major and minor street corner several times an hour.
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coughlin
Champion Author San Jose

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 6:47:25 AM

Public transportation!
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virostek
Veteran Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 5:11:51 AM

OK.
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1Boog
Champion Author Lincoln

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 5:07:21 AM

not too much of a shocker!!
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prcoqui
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:48:50 AM

The Vanpool leaves early so we can beat the DC beltway traffic.
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remay
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:37:19 AM

I wonder how much more was wasted by politicians preventing improvements?
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WonderfulMI
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:23:18 AM

Yet, many conservatives would rather waste this kind of money than spend money on road improvements. Go figure!
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mandoid
Champion Author Colorado Springs

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:18:00 AM

Believe to many studies are being done, How about using Common Sense...
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isem
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:17:43 AM

Old news......
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bobzilla11
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:11:00 AM

corporate sets start times for work to maximize business not to make commuting easier. take the bus
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kirzon484
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:07:10 AM

i know it costs my family big in time and money
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chuckohio
Champion Author Columbus

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:04:15 AM

Try to leave early for work
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Fish167
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:03:35 AM

Having lived in Atlanta, I believe this.
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kd5kpd
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:02:47 AM

Glad I dont live in those ares!!
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EVBuddy
Champion Author Nevada

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 4:02:24 AM

How maney other facts are there
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wingryder92
Champion Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:58:43 AM

It has taken them this long to figure that out??
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CarpenterNJ
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:58:35 AM

I live out in the sticks and the I-78 is often a logjam for the morning and evening commutes...
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PrinceLH
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:57:35 AM

Good luck with that!
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abk
Champion Author Utah

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:57:13 AM

Use rapid transit in bigger cities where they're sitting in traffic.
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MopedTime
All-Star Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:55:56 AM

'm glad to live in a small city. Nor traffic congestion :)
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us412
Champion Author Arkansas

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:53:38 AM

These studies are done by design and build businesses so as to drum up new business at your expense.
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Chadgas
All-Star Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:53:16 AM

Old news
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rosyLI
Champion Author Long Island

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:52:27 AM

I believe it.
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friday21
Champion Author Toronto

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:51:51 AM

Bla Bla Bla
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wkb03
Champion Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:50:16 AM

This old study is also a waste of money.
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Hunter724
Champion Author New Hampshire

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:46:37 AM

Believe to many studies are being done, How about using Common Sense...
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Royski
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:45:15 AM

It's not just congestion. It's stupid traffic lights that bring everyone to a halt when there's no traffic the other way.
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ILVET
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:43:57 AM

All these studies run billions as well
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neptune2008
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:43:37 AM

waste?? you wanna talk waste?? real waste??
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Lengas
Champion Author Gary

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:42:58 AM

ok
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melvindale
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:41:07 AM

Other than gasoline burned, all the rest is pure speculation.

Lost work hours? I don't know about the rest of you, but if I come in late, I have to stay late so the hours still come out correctly.
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raccoon2011
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:41:04 AM

old news
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scu227
Champion Author New Haven

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:40:53 AM

ok
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LeeFree
Champion Author Pittsburgh

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:40:39 AM

It costs us billions to sit in traffic and it costs us billions in road taxes. Either way it's costing us billions. There is no solution.
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djp071158
All-Star Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:39:52 AM

Seems to me I spend less time now in traffic jams than I used to. I used to get stuck in traffic for 15-30 minutes a day. It is more line 5 now. I go in at the same time but get off work later. Makes a big difference.
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pepinoNC
Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:38:30 AM

And the solution ?
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bassakwards007
Champion Author Orange County

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:38:07 AM

Sync the Traffic Signals
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blueliner16
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:36:22 AM

No surprises here
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oas
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:36:19 AM

Old news.
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bababooey2
Champion Author Hartford

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:34:51 AM

It will never end.
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bigbob1950
Veteran Author Milwaukee

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:33:26 AM

U DIDNT BUILD DAT!
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metrojeep
Champion Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:32:09 AM

Old news
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rjd1608
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:31:04 AM

commented yesterday
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StrangeLuv
Champion Author Kansas City

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Joined:Jul 2008
Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 3:29:08 AM

Not surprising.
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