Frustratingly slow traffic is a headache for all drivers. Not only is it frustrating to spend hours stuck in your car, it can also cost drivers thousands of dollars.
of INRIX 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard According to the study, Boston drivers will spend an average of about 88 hours stuck in traffic in 2023. Boston has the eighth-longest traffic congestion time in the world and the fourth-longest in the country.
According to the study, the city’s busiest area is along Interstate 93 southbound between the Zakim Bridge and Pilgrim Highway at 3 p.m.
And time equals money, so each extra minute spent sitting in traffic adds up to $1,543 in lost time and productivity for Boston drivers.
Reggie Ramos, executive director of Massachusetts Transportation Advocates, said cities need to encourage residents to switch to public transportation.
“There’s also a general lack of policies to encourage people to use transportation options other than cars,” he said.
Congestion pricing, which is being considered in traffic-heavy areas like New York and is now being introduced internationally in Singapore, Stockholm and London, Ramos said it could be a viable option to clear congested roads.
“Anyone who has been stuck in traffic in Boston knows it’s time to seriously consider congestion pricing,” Ramos said.
Mayor Michelle Wu said, meanwhile, that the city is looking at identifying congestion points in the city and using technology to slow traffic to improve enforcement.