Rush hour traffic costs you time and money FRONT PAGE Report states that OK commuters may be losing 50 hours, $800 a year Jessie Christopher Smith The Oklahoman | USA TODAY NETWORK Jason Dillis, division director In the evenings, traffic congestion is highest of information technology at on I-235 going northbound and southbound Mosaic Personnel in between NE 23 and I-44; and I-40 westbound Oklahoma City, often from Pennsylvania Avenue to I-44. returns home after picking Traffic returns as pandemic wanes up his children from daycare Moretti’s research shows that pre-pandemic by taking a route that avoids levels of traffic are returning to evening peak Interstate 40. He said it periods but not to mornings — at least, not sometimes adds 40 minutes yet. to his travel time. “There does seem to be a sense of pent-up “We definitely avoid I-40 at demand in terms of trips people would like to all costs,” Dillis said. “That’s take,” Moretti said. “Obviously we’re coming a nightmare that we into the summer months, so consumer recognize, so we behavior might also result in some additional intentionally avoid anything traffic, and economic growth that was on that side of town for the impacted by COVID-19 is bouncing back traffic alone.” across the country.” Afternoon rush hour begins Wednesday on “I think we got used to, during the pandemic, Since the Fixing America’s Surface north bound Interstate 235 near NW 36, the everyone staying home, so obviously traffic Transportation (FAST) Act was signed into most congested highway section was a breeze,” Dillis said. “Going anywhere law in 2016, Oklahoma has received from the in Oklahoma City during the late rush hour, there was no traffic at all. I think it’s just federal government an average of $676 according to a recent report. DOUG picked back up, and that’s the reason I avoid million annually to improve and repair its HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN I-40.” roads. Finding yourself stuck frequently in Oklahoma The most congested traffic areas in the state The program was originally slated to expire in City traffic on the interstate might be costing are various places along Interstate 35, I-40, September of 2020, but Congress extended you 50 hours and $800 a year, according to a Interstate 44 and Interstate 235. the legislation by a year. new transportation report. The Oklahoma Department of TRIP, a Washington-based transportation Transportation shared a statement research group, estimated that congestion with The Oklahoman in response to in Oklahoma’s metropolitan areas costs the TRIP report, saying that the state residents $1.5 billion a year because issues of urban traffic congestion, of lost time and fuel. pavement conditions and rural two- Drivers in the Oklahoma City area lose an lane highways with deficient average of $842 and 50 hours a year from shoulders “cannot be solved interstate traffic congestion, the report says. overnight.” Tulsa drivers are not far behind, losing an “Adequate and sustained state and annual average of 46 hours and $732. federal funding will be necessary “The Texas (A&M) Transportation Institute as ODOT continues to make much- does an annual report on traffic congestion, needed improvements to the and we take those numbers,” said Rocky highway system, especially with Moretti, TRIP's director of research and recent harsh winters accelerating policy who authored the report. “It’s the deterioration of older and essentially saying that for someone who’s a already stressed pavements and as regular commuter traveling during rush the state’s population and economy hour, they estimate that this is the additional continue to grow,” the statement time lost, and then they put a value on the read. time you lose and on the fuel you’re losing, Oklahoma’s traffic fatality rate is so they monetize that." ranked eighth in the United States, with 1.43 deaths for every 100 “We definitely avoid I-40 at all costs.” vehicle miles traveled, according to Jason Dillis, Division director of information the National Highway Safety technology at Mosaic Personnel in Administration. Oklahoma City “It’s important that, whatever Avoiding the worst spots In the mornings, Oklahoma City area federal surface transportation program that is Traffic jams and bottlenecks are frequently motorists should expect traffic snarls going reauthorized, it also contain the flexibility caused by road conditions, highway eastbound on I-44 from State Highway 152 to needed in Oklahoma so that the state and the construction and automobile accidents, which I-40; I-35 northbound from I-240 to I-40; and I- regional governments can take that funding then result in slower speeds and longer travel 35 northbound from SW 19 in Moore to I-240. and use it on the types of projects that are times. most critically needed,” Moretti said.