The state should continue to look at the solutions it has already found to be effective.
Although we are not quite there yet, traffic is getting back to pre-COVID-19 levels nationally. However, different patterns seem to be appearing and, to quote the 2023 Urban Mobility Report, “It’s the same but different.”
The general trend appears to be similar in Texas. According to the 100 Most Congested Texas Road Segments report that was released in November 2023, “Congestion was higher in 2022 compared to 2021: 7 percent across all monitored roads and 16 percent across the top 100." However, while the number of vehicle-miles traveled is increasing, and is sometimes above 2019 levels, delay remains below what it was in 2019.
There are several reasons for this increase, which, for Texas, include a general growth in population and the economy, and a return to the office for those whose work cannot be easily done remotely.
Lengthier travel times and increased traffic volume come at the cost of less time for travelers, lower productivity for commuters, increased fuel “wasted,” and a financial per commuter of $1,259 (in 2022 dollars) according the 2023 Urban Mobility Report.
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