Chicago, Congestion Capital USA

Thursday, 20 January 2011 | by Pat's Picks

Los Angeles always comes to mind when I think of the worst places in the US to be a driver. But officially, it’s Chicago that gets the top honor. The Windy City was just crowned number one in road congestion, tying the DC metro area and beating out LA says the Chicago Tribune. New York/Newark was ranked 10th.

The study found that each year, drivers in Chicago spent an extra 70 hours behind the wheel trying to get from point A to point B—the national average was 34 hours. In comparison, New Yorkers spent an average of 42 hours stuck in traffic each year. Chicago also took home first prize for the financial toll congestion played on its residents: Chicagoans spent an extra $1,738 each year mired in congestion.

Read more about the 2010 Urban Mobility Report