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March 8, 2011

Baltimore once more rates high in congestion

Once again, a national survey of traffic congestion shows that Baltimore is punching above its weight class when it comes to traffic congestion.

A study by INRIX, a company that provides traffic data to GPS services, found that Baltimore ranks 14th in congestion among U.S. metropolitan areas even through it is only 20th in population.

Baltimore's ranking on the INRIX survey has been moving up each year since 2006, when it came in 21st. Last year it came in 15th.

Washington's congestion also ranked higher than its size. The 8th most populous metro area in the country scored 4th in congestion -- behind Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.

In January, the Texas Transportation Institute ranked Baltimore 5th in congestion during peak travel times and Washington 2nd.

The high scores for congestion in Baltimore reflect in part the relatively robust economy in the region. In comparison, hard-pressed metropolitan Detroit ranks 11th in population but only 22nd in congestion.

 

 

 

 

Posted by Michael Dresser at 3:30 PM |
Categories: On the roads
        
About Michael Dresser
Michael Dresser has been an editor, reporter and columnist with The Sun longer than Baltimore's had a subway. He's covered retailing, telecommunications, state politics and wine. Since 2004, he's been The Sun's transportation writer. He lives in Ellicott City with his wife and travel companion, Cindy.

His Getting There column appears on Mondays. Mike's blog will be a forum for all who are interested in highways, transit and other transportation issues affecting Baltimore, Maryland and the region.
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