The Cities With The Worst Commutes

Summarizing the results from the 2006 Commuting in America report, Forbes profiles the top ten cities with the worst commute.

1 minute read

December 27, 2006, 6:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"As cities sprawl, commuting in America just keeps getting worse.

The average travel time to work in the U.S. is growing steadily. From 1980 to 1990, it increased 40 seconds, from 21.7 minutes to 22.4 minutes for a one-way trip. In the next decade it increased by about three minutes to 25.5, according to Commuting in America by Alan Pisarski, a 2006 study published by the Transportation Research Board.

Even more worrisome trends are emerging in major urban areas. Back in 1990, only in New York state did more than 10% of workers travel over 60 minutes to get to work. By 2000, New Jersey, Maryland and Illinois had acquired the same dubious distinction, and California was coming close."

Tuesday, December 19, 2006 in Forbes

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 7, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

May 2, 2025 - SD News

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Pump station with blue pipes coming out of concrete wall in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Builds Subway-Sized Tunnel — for Stormwater

The $700 million ‘stormwater subway’ is designed to handle overflows during storms, which contain toxic runoff from roadways and vehicles.

May 13 - City Observatory

Sign for Deschutes National Forest in Oregon.

Feds Clear Homeless Encampment in Oregon Forest

The action displaced over 100 people living on national forest land near Bend, Oregon.

May 13 - The New York Times

Seeing the Better City

Is This Urbanism?

Chuck Wolfe ponders a recommended subscription list of Substack urbanists and wonders — as have others — about the utility of the "urbanist" moniker.

May 13 - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.