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Maryland Ranked 1st On Getting To Work Last

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Travel woes. If you feel like you're spending too much time sitting in traffic, you are not alone.

Amy Yensi explains how Maryland compares to other states when it comes to commuting.

Maryland is ranked first on getting to work last.

A trip in Maryland may take some patience. There's no way around the traffic, but just how bad is it? The 2013 American Community survey says it's as bad as it gets.

"Lots of traffic. Lots of people to worry about and people that don't cross at the corner anymore," said Charles House, driver.

"It's not very good. It takes a long time. I've just come from Catonsville. It took two hours," said Skip Harris, commuter.

The report used data from the U.S. Census Bureau to add up commute times across the country. With a mean travel time to work of 32.5 minutes, Maryland has the longest commute in the U.S.

Adrienne Barnes with Baltimore City Department of Transportation says our infrastructure needs constant upkeep.

And expect lots of it. She calls this time of year construction season for the city's roads, bridges and sidewalks.

"People get a little frustrated. We try to ease their pain and congestion by giving them advanced notice on construction work, assisting them with detour routes and asking that public transportation be an option," said Barnes.

Though they can't guarantee a fast or easy ride, traffic officials say the best way to avoid extra long commutes is to stay informed.

"Know before you go. Plan ahead. Allow extra time. Those are the three bullets I can give motorists," Barnes said.

Adding to the gridlock, the Baltimore Business Journal estimates nearly half of the state's commuters cross county borders to get to work. That's why some who can would rather commute the way nature intended.

"You canend up waiting and sometimes I just decide to walk anyway," said Lisa Meyers.

Maryland has longer commute times than New York City, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.

Wyoming has the shortest commute with a mean travel time to work of 17.5 minutes.

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