Report: U.S. traffic delays hit record
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Urban Mobility Report finds U.S. traffic congestion reached record levels in 2024, with the average American spending 63 hours stalled in traffic as delays spread beyond traditional rush hours and into more days of the week. Los Angeles topped the rankings at 137 hours lost per commuter, while San Diego saw the biggest percentage increase since 2019 at more than 37%, and researchers noted rising truck-related rush-hour delays and heavier Thursday traffic nearly matching Fridays.
📌 Key Facts
- Average American lost 63 hours to traffic in 2024, a record per Texas A&M TTI
- Los Angeles commuters lost 137 hours, highest among U.S. metros
- San Diego delays up more than 37% per commuter since 2019
- Delays are spreading to weekends; Mondays are lighter while Thursdays nearly match Fridays
- Truck-related rush-hour delays are climbing back toward pre-pandemic levels
📊 Relevant Data
The U.S. population grew by nearly 1% between 2023 and 2024, with net international migration of 2.8 million people driving the majority of this increase, while natural increase (births minus deaths) contributed only about 0.5 million.
Migration Drives Highest Population Growth in Decades — U.S. Census Bureau
San Diego County's population increased slightly between 2023 and 2024 solely due to a surge in immigration, which grew by 22% in one year, offsetting a net loss from natural decrease and domestic migration.
San Diego grew last year – but only because of a surge in immigration — The San Diego Union-Tribune
In Los Angeles County, the White non-Hispanic population decreased by 2.7 percentage points to 25.2% between recent years, while the overall county population was approximately 9.8 million in 2022, with Hispanics making up about 48% of the population.
Los Angeles County, CA population by year, race, & more — USAFacts
Immigration accounted for all of the population growth in 21 major U.S. metro areas and half or more in another 24 between 2023 and 2024, contributing to rebounds in areas like those with high traffic congestion.
Recent immigration brought a population rebound to America's major metro areas, new census data show — Brookings Institution
The rapid growth of e-commerce has increased demand for trucking and delivery services, leading to more truck traffic and contributing to urban congestion in the U.S. in 2024.
The Impact of E-Commerce Growth on Trucking Demand — Commercial Truck Trader