Chicago Ranked Worst In Nation For Traffic Jams
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago has been named the worst in the nation when it comes to traffic congestion.
Gridlock is growing on major roads almost every hour of the day, according to the Urban Mobility report, which was issued by the Texas Transportation Institute on Thursday.
Beyond the time it normally takes to travel without delays, commuters in Chicago sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic an additional 70 hours a year.
The national average for traffic delays was 34 hours, the Chicago Tribune reported.
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Chicago is not alone in the top spot on the list. The city is tied with Washington, D.C.
The reason traffic has worsened may be because the improving economy has brought more cars on the road.
This was not of much reassurance to CBS 2's Kris Habermehl.
"You're supposed to entertain yourself with the fact that you're sitting spending about, oh, an average of 70 hours a year extra and traffic trying to get to and from as you get into and out of Chicago, you can be happy that the economy is growing to the point where you're going to make just enough money to cover the gas that you're going to be spending burning it up on the roads around here," Habermehl said Thursday morning.
In past years, Chicago has ranked second or third on the list, the Tribune reported.
