Monrovia Drivers Spend Eye-Popping Number Of Hours In Traffic

MONROVA, CA — Drivers around Los Angeles County spent nearly three days just sitting in traffic this year. While that's worse than most American commutes, it's way less than usual thanks to the pandemic.

According to INRIX, a transportation analytics firm, Los Angeles drivers spent an average of 62 hours sitting in traffic in 2021.

It could be worse.

The 62 hours of 405, 10 or 101 freeway purgatory is actually a 40 percent drop from pre-pandemic levels, according to a report released Tuesday.

"COVID-19's impact on transportation has continued through 2021, transforming when, where and how people move. Although congestion climbed 28% this year, Americans still saved 63 hours compared to normal," Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a statement. "The most notable change to commuting during the pandemic — other than reduced travel times and volumes — was the lack of downtown travel."

Traffic trips to downtown Los Angeles were down 28% this year, reflecting a national trend that saw downtown trips fall 22% from 2019 levels, according to INRIX researchers.

The Los Angeles urban area ranked as the sixth-most congested area in the nation, behind New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and Miami.

That time in traffic also takes a toll on the wallet. According to INRIX, those 62 hours cost the average driver about $968 this year. That amount factors in the cost of gas, lost productivity and other issues.

Los Angeles spent almost twice as much time and money on traffic as the national average. The national average was 36 hours, with a cost per driver of $564.

The study notes that many people have continued to work remotely this year, contributing to the drop in traffic heading to downtown areas.

Los Angeles had two of the top 10 most congested roads in the country this year, including the most congested route -- the stretch of Interstate 5 between Euclid Avenue and the 605 Freeway. Motorists on that stretch endured an average of 22 minutes of delay at the 4 p.m. peak traffic hour, according to the report.

The portion of the 10 Freeway from Washington Boulevard in West Los Angeles to the Harbor (110) Freeway downtown ranked as the 10th most congested route.

The most congested city in the world was determined to be London, where motorists lost an average of 148 hours sitting in traffic. Paris was second, with a loss of 140 hours.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.