Traffic Takes Huge Toll on American Wallets, Study Shows

What’s happening: Americans concerned about the high cost of groceries, housing and health insurance have another rising expense to worry about: record traffic congestion. According to a recently released report by Texas A&M Transportation Institute the annual cost per commuter in some areas is approaching $4,000 a year. The average cost nationally increased nearly 20 percent over the last five years.

Which cities top the list: The study of nearly 500 U.S. cities ranks areas according to annual congestion cost per commuter. Among the most expensive:

• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CA – $3,935
• San Francisco-Oakland CA – $3,326
• New York-Newark NY-NJ-CT – $2,662
• Chicago IL-IN – $2,363
• Washington DC-VA-MD – $2,281

Why it matters: The report’s findings highlight the need for robust federal highway and public transportation investment to help keep pace with a growing economy and travel demand.

Dig deeper: See where your city ranks.