It’s not just you, D.C. traffic is getting worse. Since the height of the pandemic, D.C. has become one of the five worst commuter cities in the country. Our average commute is 37 minutes one-way. That's 10 minutes longer than the national average. Why is it so bad?
Cars Are In, Metro Is Out:
More people are choosing to drive to work rather than take the Metro. Washington Post transportation reporter Ian Duncan says this is because many people bought cars during the pandemic. Also, many don’t mind eating that extra time/cost if they are only commuting one or two days a week.
Traffic Isn’t What It Used To Be:
Studies show that traffic patterns are changing. Instead of having peak rush hours in the morning and evening, traffic is more spread out during the day. The introduction of more flexible schedules and work spaces means more consistent traffic that is practically unavoidable.
All Said, It’s a Good Time To Ride Metro
Metro’s morning rush hour traffic is still only 40% of what it was pre-pandemic. And it’s only back to 60% during the day. Additionally, trains are running more frequently now than they have in years. The days of jamming yourself into a busy Metro car as the doors close might be behind us.
As much as we talk about how driving is pretty miserable right now, it's quite a nice time to be a Metro rider.
Ian Duncan , Washington Post reporter
