Study Finds Nation's Rush Hour Lasts 6 Hours

A study of transportation systems in 68 urban areas titled '2001 Urban Mobility Study' illustrates the nation's growing traffic problems.

1 minute read

May 7, 2001, 1:30 PM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"[T]he timeframe we refer to as 'rush hour' in the nation's major cities has doubled in less than 20 years, increasing from nearly three hours (morning and evening combined) in 1982 to almost 6 hours in 1999. Congested travel periods today consume nearly half of the daylight hours in any given workday.That's one of several findings from the 2001 Urban Mobility Study, published Monday by the Texas Transportation Institute. In the annual study, TTI Researchers David Schrank and Tim Lomax use a variety of measures to illustrate the nation's growing traffic problem. The findings are intended to provide elected officials, policy makers and everyday commuters a collection of easily understood measures to support local decision-making related to freeway and street systems as well as a variety of other land-use issues." [Complete 71-page report is available online.]

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Monday, May 7, 2001 in Texas Transportation Institute

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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

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.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business

Large spinning swing ride at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip

Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

July 3 - Streetsblog Chicago

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3 - Governing