Baltimore Residents Have One Of The Worst Commutes In US
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Bearing the gridlock. A new study finds that Baltimore-area workers face one of the nation's longest commuting times.
Amy Yensi has more on what's behind the delays.
Experts say the heavy traffic comes from more people living and working in the area. That sounds positive but it just doesn't seem that way to drivers.
Be ready to pump the brakes when traveling in these parts.
"The traffic is really bad," said one driver.
The stop-and-go shuffle is hard to avoid for some Baltimoreans. Now a new census study by the Associated Press shows Baltimore-area workers face one of the nation's longest average commuting times---the sixth longest commute in the country.
It takes nearly 31 minutes on average to get to or from work, placing the Baltimore region in the same ranks as other notoriously congested areas like New York and Washington DC.
Drivers say they're not surprised by the study because they deal with traffic every day.
"I come up here for medical care and I have to drive 295 and it is stopped up all the time," said Betty Hill.
"We are making investments as we can to provide more capacity," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn.
Rahn says he understands the frustration of drivers. He points to the state's nearly $2 billion investment in transportation improvement projects, including $100 million for the addition of a fourth line to the Beltway.
Some drivers say the construction on both major roads and alternate routes at the same time adds to the problem.
"Especially 95. It's a headache to get out of there," said one.
Others say things could be worse.
"I've sat in traffic for hours, like 3-4 hours, jam-packed bumper to bumper in Philly. Here, I've never sat that long," said Angelique Brockenbrough.
Rahn went on to say they are still working on a plan to improve public transit in Baltimore. They say the reason so many roads are currently under repair is because they can only pave the roads during the warm weather months.
