Gridlock cost Greater Boston estimated $2.9B
The Massachusetts Turnpike, which unveiled a tollbooth-less system last fall, is among the most congested urban areas in the country.
Commuting gridlock cost the Greater Boston area an estimated $2.9 billion in lost economic productivity, fuel and other costs, according to a new report by INRIX, a California transportation analytics firm.
Boston-area drivers had the highest amount of peak-travel congestion, with 23 percent of commuting time spent in congestion, the report said. The Boston region ranked eighth overall among major U.S. metro areas in how much time drivers spent in 2016 in congestion, with an estimated 58 hours.
That cost the average Boston-area commuter nearly $1,800 over the course of the year in gas costs, lost productivity and other expenses.
The report looked at an area of Boston extending just beyond the I-95 belt, according to INRIX.
The Los Angeles area ranked worst in the country, with 104 hours spent in gridlock by the average commuter. That was followed by New York City, San Francisco, Atlanta and Miami.
Boston rated poorly in several areas. It tied with Chicago for worst freight delivery and business-related travel, and average speeds during times of congestion of just 4.9 mph. I-93 northbound between Route 24 and Exit 16 for Southampton Street in Boston -- shortly before reaching downtown -- rated as the fourth-worst congested corridor in the country.
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