Study: Austin traffic worsens

The average Austin driver spent about 66 hours stuck in traffic in 2017, a level of congestion similar to what motorists in Dallas, San Diego and Portland experienced that same year, according to a study released Thursday.

By that indicator, Austin is the 14th most congested city in America, researchers with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute concluded. For the last several years Austin was 16th, though the city did rank 14th in 2013.

The number of hours Austin drivers spend trapped in gridlock has risen steadily in Austin every year since 2009, which is in line with most of America. The study looked at 2017 traffic data, the most recent available on the subject, and found that most cities throughout the country reached their highest levels of congestion to date.

Congestion isn't limited to rush hour, either. About 33% of total delays in America occurred in the midday and overnight hours, "when travelers and shippers expect free-flow travel," the report says.

Most places, including Austin, saw a slight dip in congestion during the 2008 recession. That trend supports what the researchers stressed in their report: An area's economic prosperity will attract more people and more vehicles.

"When we look at the trends, congestion is on the rise in Austin, and I think that reflects the popularity of Austin," said Bill Eisele, one of the report's co-authors. "There's clearly a link between population growth, economic activity and congestion. You can't have a wonderful economic upside without getting congestion, too."

But that doesn't mean that Americans should take the rising congestion in stride, researchers said.

"We’re talking billions of wasted hours, and the cost of delay at that scale is just enormous," said David Schrank, another co-author.

The traffic woes are costing commuters more than just time. Austin commuters lost $1,270 annually in fuel and lost productivity, making the city 13th in the country in congestion costs.

In terms of roadwork, Eisele pointed to several Interstate 35 projects that he thinks will ease congestion, including the completed roundabout at 51st Street and the planned construction of three new flyovers at I-35 and U.S. 183.

But it's critical that other things change as well — increasing development density within Austin; expanding public transportation; improving traffic signal timing; encouraging employers to embrace telecommuting and flexible work hours for their workers; and quickly removing vehicles involved in crashes are all potential ways to help reduce congestion, researchers said.

“No single approach will ever solve this complex problem,” co-author Tim Lomax said. “We know what works. What the country needs is a robust, information-powered conversation at the local, state and national levels about what steps should be taken. We have many strategies; we have to figure out the right solution for each problem and a way to pay for them."

Austinites who take the MetroRail said their access to the train — and the option to avoid traffic altogether — is a godsend.

"I love this city, but I actually don't drive around here anymore because traffic gives me anxiety," said Whitney Covert, 33, a Southeast Austin resident who was waiting to board the train at the Plaza Saltillo MetroRail station on the way to a friend's house. "The congestion is a bit much."

Since riding the train, Covert said she has been more relaxed and has enjoyed seeing the city in a different way.

To avoid downtown Austin traffic, Pflugerville resident Brian Hickey, 37, drives to the North Austin Howard MetroRail station and takes the train to his job at an oil and gas tech startup. His commute takes a bit longer on the train, but Hickey said it's worth it for his quality of life.

"I'm OK commuting longer on the train, if it means I'm not angry when I get home," he said.

The report reaffirms what Austinites already know, which is that traffic is getting worse in the region, said Matt Geske, vice president of regional infrastructure and mobility for the Austin Chamber of Commerce.

"We are working with policymakers, elected officials and our partners to find all-of-the-above solutions to our challenges before they begin to negatively impact our region’s ability to remain competitive," Geske said.

American-Statesman staff writer Nancy Flores contributed to this report.