The 2007 Urban Mobility Report (130001-09112007-PR)

Traffic congestion continues to worsen in American cities of all sizes, creating a $78 billion annual drain on the U.S. economy in the form of 4.2 billion lost hours and 2.9 billion gallons of wasted fuel. The 2007 Urban Mobility Report notes that congestion causes the average peak period traveler to spend an extra 38 hours of travel time and consume an additional 26 gallons of fuel, amounting to a cost of $710 per traveler. Improvements to the methodology used to measure congestion nationwide have produced the most detailed picture yet of a problem that is growing worse in all of the nation¿s urban areas. The current report is based on 2005 figures, the most recent year for which complete data are available. Along with expanding the estimates of the effect of congestion to all 437 U.S. urban areas, the study provides detailed information for 85 specific urban areas. The report also focuses on the problems presented by ¿irregular events¿¿crashes, stalled vehicles, work zones, weather problems, and special events¿that cause unreliable travel times and contribute significantly to the overall congestion problem. The report identifies multiple solutions to the congestion problem that, researchers say, must be used together to be effective.