Traffic is always a drag, and here in the city of Chicago, we’re apparently on another level. Yes, we’ve made it onto another list– and this one is a doozy. We officially have the most traffic congestion across the entire state. Yes, we beat out New York and California, places known for their high traffic.
The Windy City has scored the top spot for a second year in a row, making Chicago the most congested city in the United States. An annual study from analytics firm Inrix, calculates that the average Chicago driver lost around 155 hours sitting in traffic in 2022. This is up from 104 hours in 2021.
Why exactly are the roads more congested? Well, that comes down to fewer people using public transportation, as rider numbers were down to 56% this past year. Luckily, the 9-year constriction project on the Jane Byrne Interchange was completed this year, offering relief to drivers across the city.
As for the top spot across the world, we scored number two with London showing their average driver was usually stuck in traffic for 156 hours in 2022.