Traffic in DFW has gotten insane in the last 5 years
Too many people moving here. Road infrastructure not ready pic.twitter.com/Z8BjCXH7sb
— Amy Nixon (@texasrunnerDFW) July 7, 2024
Over the past five years, DFW has faced significant traffic issues, including congestion, longer travel times, and unfortunately, a high traffic fatality rate. Let’s break it down:
- Traffic Fatality Rate:
- Worst in the U.S.: According to an NBC 5 Investigates analysis of federal highway traffic safety data, Dallas had the worst traffic fatality rate among the ten largest U.S. cities from 2017 to 2021. On average, there were about 15 traffic deaths per 100,000 people during this period.
- Compared to Other Cities: Dallas’ traffic death rate is 27% higher than Houston’s, 22% higher than Fort Worth’s, and a whopping 51% higher than Los Angeles’ rate.
- Reasons: Speeding remains a significant factor, and efforts are ongoing to address this issue.
- Congestion and Travel Times:
- Pre-Pandemic Levels: A study by INRIX, a transportation data company, shows that DFW congestion is creeping back to pre-pandemic levels. In 2022, the typical North Texas driver lost 56 hours in congestion, which is 12 hours more than the previous year but still 11% below pre-pandemic levels.
- Travel Time Increase: Last year, the average time it took to travel 10 km in DFW increased by 10 seconds compared to the previous year.
- Worst Day: February 3rd was the worst day for travel through Dallas-Fort Worth in 2023, with an average travel time of 14 minutes and 30 seconds for a 10 km trip.
- Population Growth and Infrastructure Challenges:
- Rapid Growth: Decades of rapid population growth in DFW have led to a problem with no easy solutions. Despite highway construction efforts, the region faces ongoing traffic troubles.
- Road Infrastructure: The road infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with the influx of new residents, contributing to congestion and longer commute times.
- DFW Airport Traffic:
- Travel Patterns: DFW Airport’s traffic statistics show fluctuations in travel times throughout the week. Rush hours, especially Tuesday evenings, tend to be busiest.
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