According to a recent report, the extra time Tampa drivers spend in traffic is about 48 hours a year due to traffic congestion. In the report, completed by TomTom, Tampa ranked 12 out of 80 cities measured in the United States. The report shines a light on Tampa’s crowded highways and lengthy rush hours.
According to the report, Tampa has a 21% congestion level. This means that a 30-minute trip will take 21% more time than it would during Tampa’s baseline uncongested conditions. In other words, a 30-minute trip driven in free-flow conditions will take six minutes longer with a congestion level of 21%.
Related: Hillsborough Seeks Resident Input About Transportation
In general, Tampa experienced an increase in congestion levels in 2021. TomTom’s data suggest that the average travel time increased by two minutes a day. Although, rush hour seems to be improving. In 2019, a driver could expect to spend an extra 16 minutes in traffic during evening rush hour. In 2021, that number decreased to an extra 12 minutes. Perhaps the fact that some companies allow workers to work from home occasionally has led to this slight decrease.
Of all the cities studied, New York lost the most time per year, with a total of 80 hours lost. Greensboro-High Point in North Carolina lost the least amount of time, only 18 hours a year.
