And as other metropolitan areas have increasing problems with traffic, their infrastructures and power, it makes cities such as Wichita all the more attractive, he says. That means opportunities for us. Few drivers could cite a commute within city limits of more than 25 minutes, even during rush hour. In Atlanta, the figure is 53 hours, twice what it was just seven years ago, the study showed. Congested travel periods today consume nearly half of the daylight hours in any given workday, says Tim Lomax, a research engineer who originated the study in the early 1980s.
Researchers say there's no single solution to the worsening problem of traffic jams.
The average rush hour trip takes 32 percent more time than the same trip taken outside the rush hour. A Gallup poll shows that more Americans are becoming concerned about traffic. They also believe that traffic is a problem that will get worse. More than three in 10 of those who drive to work said they have made some change in their life or schedule in order to account for traffic. The most popular accommodations included leaving earlier, taking alternate routes and allowing more time for travel.