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Study Shows Traffic Negatively Affects Commuters--And Will Get Worse

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The U.S. is choking itself on traffic. Drivers are losing hours each year stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Marcus Washington explains it's particularly bad in our region.

The findings aren't surprising--at least not for transportation officials. But the issue--traffic here is expected to get worse.

From Baltimore to northern Virginia, population is growing. As seen in Sky Eye Chopper 13, bringing increased traffic.

According to a new study, bumper-to-bumper traffic is costing us all 82 hours of delay per driver a year in our area, costing drivers 88 million gallons of fuel stuck in traffic.

"You do have people that are driving, that are out there more, that went to the beach more this year maybe than in years past," said David Buck, State Highway Administration. "We made it through in this area--all in all--pretty well. But with that, comes congestion because we are in an area that's got so much to offer."

Buck says there is no one answer to all of this--but there is work being done to make the commute for millions in the area easier.

"A couple projects on the Beltway. We've got a hundred million dollar widening job we are about to start on the Beltway on the west side, too, so we've got some big projects," Buck said. "But obviously with that long-term gain comes a little bit of short-term inconvenience."

And that inconvenience is something commuter Idell Mallory, who lives in Hyattsville but works in downtown Baltimore, knows well.

"I usually get up around 6 a.m. and try to be on the road by 6:30 a.m. to get here at least by 8 a.m. Leaving work, I can leave at 5 p.m. and it varies. I can get home between 7 and 8 p.m.," Mallory said.

He is just one of many who will endure the traffic woes weekly as population in our area is expected to increase. By 2040, our area population is expected to increase by 25 percent: that's more than 6.5 million people and 1 million more drivers.

"I decided to take the MARC train, which is more convenient. It is a 40-45 minute commute, and I can sleep on the train so I can get my sleep back that I lost," Mallory said.

The State Highway Administration is responsible for one-third of the roads in Maryland, but those roads are used by 75 to 80 percent of the state's population.

Several months ago, Governor Larry Hogan announced $1.9 billion going toward state transportation.

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