Austin traffic among worst in country

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Four of the country's 100 worst traffic bottlenecks are in Austin. That may not be a surprise if you have had to take Interstate 35 during rush hour.

Austin also has more of those bottlenecks than any other city in Texas and they are all along Interstate 35.

That is according to a new study from Kirkland, Wash.-based Inrix, which provides traffic information to MapQuest, Microsoft Corp.

According to the study, the worst traffic bottleneck in Texas is on northbound Interstate 35 at Riverside Drive at exit 233.

Next is southbound Interstate 35 at MLK at exit 235, followed by southbound Interstate 35 at MLK at exit 235A and southbound Interstate 35 at 12th Street/15th Street at exits 234-235.Below is a map of some of the worst intersections:

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The Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Association said this study proves that a comprehensive approach must be taken to tackling the regions transportation challenges.

"It's going to take time and money and folks are going to have to have patience,” said Marcus Cooper, TxDOT spokesperson.

The study ranked exit 235 to Martin Luther King Boulevard and 19th Street the worst in Texas and 62nd worst in the country. The .35-mile stretch is congested 34 hours per week, slowing commuters to an average speed of 9.8 mph when congested.

Exit 233, to Riverside Drive, was the state's second-worst and 75th worst in the nation, with vehicles traveling an average of 17.1 miles per hour during 57 congested hours per week.

The study found the best time to drive in Austin is Monday from 9 to 10 a.m.; the worst, Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m.

Inrix said traffic congestion across the country increased nearly 2 percent in 2007 over 2006 and there appears to be no relief in sight in 2008, although higher fuel prices and the economy are affecting the rate of growth.

For overall congestion, the Austin-Round Rock area was the country's 26th worst, behind Dallas, ranked 5th, Houston, ranked 7th, and San Antonio, ranked 25th. Los Angeles' congestion was ranked the nation's worst.

The study describes capacity bottlenecks as the most vulnerable points in a network and are very often the subject of offensive or defensive military actions. Capacity bottlenecks of strategic importance, such as the Panama Canal where traffic is limited by the infrastructure, are normally referred to as chokepoints; capacity bottlenecks of tactical value are referred to as mobility corridors.

The Texas Transportation Commission has postponed for at least one week the vote on how to allocate $1.2 billion in federal stimulus money to allow for public input. The commission had planned to vote Thursday on the funding that will primarily be spent on new construction projects throughout the state.

"We want to give the public, the legislators, the press, ample opportunity to review the list before we take action," said Commission Chair Deirdre Delisi. The commission will hold a specially called meeting next week on a yet to be determined date to vote on the stimulus spending.

TxDOT has been working with local transportation leaders and others since November to prepare for a stimulus package, said Chris Lippincott, agency spokesman.

Lippincott noted that the federal economic stimulus bill, signed by President Barack Obama on Feb. 17, requires that at least 50 percent of the money be obligated within 120 days. Approved projects must be environmentally cleared, design complete and have sufficient right of way secured for construction to begin.

"It’s an acknowledgment that this is a complicated process," Lippincott said of the delay.

The commission plans to move ahead Thursday on about $500 million in highway maintenance projects to be funded by stimulus money. In a separate action, the commission is expected to approve $600 million in safety projects paid for by borrowing against future gas tax revenue.

 

 

 

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