Traffic congestion got worse in 2024. Emerging tech can help

Feeling congested?

We’re not talking about the sniffles. Traffic congestion in the US got worse in 2024, according to Dutch mapping and location tech company TomTom’s 14th annual Traffic Index, which includes data on traffic in 500 cities in 62 countries––its largest-ever dataset. The index ranks cities based on average travel time and congestion level.

The index reflects growing traffic congestion and slower speeds in many US cities––but there’s optimism that public policy and tech solutions can make it easier to get from Point A to Point B even in the densest urban environments.

“The combination of population and economic growth is putting significant strain on our transportation networks,” Ralf-Peter Schäfer, VP of traffic at TomTom, said in a statement. “Outdated infrastructure and inefficient road planning fail to keep pace with demand. Additionally, the surge in e-commerce has led to a rise in freight traffic, further complicating the situation.”

“Without a shift toward more regulation and sustainable transportation options,” he added, “we risk worsening congestion that impacts everyone in our cities.”

By the numbers:

• Traffic congestion in the US ticked up 9% YoY in 2024.
• More than three-quarters of the cities included in the index had lower average speeds compared to 2023.
• New York City ranked as the slowest US city, where a “typical six-mile trip took an average of 30 minutes.” In Brooklyn, it took even longer: 35 minutes.
• NYC, San Francisco, and Honolulu topped the index, with the slowest average travel speeds.
• Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Miami had the highest congestion levels of US cities.
• Globally, the slowest city was Barranquilla, Colombia, with an average travel time of nearly 35 minutes for a six-mile trip.
• The index is based on data from more than 600 million connected devices and more than 61 billion anonymous GPS data points.

If that all sounds a bit bleak, fear not. TomTom leaders believe there’s plenty of room for improvement, and put out “a call to action for smarter mobility.”

Businesses, for example, could “leverage the data to optimize logistics, streamline supply chains, and enhance delivery routes.” Auto manufacturers could use the findings “to develop advanced navigation systems, traffic prediction features, and driver-assistance technologies that improve safety and enhance the overall driving experience.”

The authors also hope the data will guide policymakers as they make decisions related to “infrastructure investments, public transportation initiatives, and traffic management strategies,” per a news release.

Take, for example, one public policy that’s been getting lots of attention of late: NYC’s new, first-in-the-nation congestion pricing. As Morning Brew reported, it appears to be working in its early days, with an average of 7.5% fewer vehicles in the city’s central business district, a 20% to 30% reduction in the time it takes to get across town, and reduced travel times between New York and New Jersey.

Carrot vs. stick: Andy Marchant, director of product marketing at TomTom, told Tech Brew via email that the increase in congestion might necessitate public officials taking a different approach to traffic management––including “incentive-based approaches,” especially given outdated infrastructure in many cities, urban sprawl, and US consumers’ penchant for personal cars.

That’s where tech solutions come in. Marchant pointed to innovations like adaptive traffic signals and AI-powered traffic monitoring. Meanwhile, solutions like real-time information on bus and train arrival times for passengers, and data analytics to optimize bus routes, are helping public transit become “smarter and more efficient,” he said.

“These,” Marchant said, “are just some of the ways in which technology and traffic analytics can assist cities in addressing their congestion challenges.”