The Cost of Traffic Congestion | Metropolitan Transportation Commission

The Cost of Traffic Congestion | Metropolitan Transportation Commission
The Cost of Traffic Congestion
Traffic congestion isn’t just inconvenient, it creates some real problems, too. Consider these factors the next time you are heading out.
Credit
iStock
More crashes.
Stop-and-go travel increases the number of collisions, which then slow down traffic even more. The
Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol
assisted drivers in 10,000 traffic crashes in 2025.
Credit
Adobe
Increased travel time.
Traffic congestion means it takes longer to get to your destination, and travel times can be unpredictable. People are often late to work or for medical appointments, and can miss travel connections (like planes or trains).
Credit
Peter Beeler
Worse air quality – it’s an equity issue.
Vehicle pollution on congested roadways means worse air quality for everyone in the Bay Area, but especially for neighborhoods alongside freeways. Historically, communities of color suffer from higher rates of asthma and other air quality-related health issues.
Credit
Karl Nielsen
Trucking impacts means higher cost for goods.
When trucks get stuck in traffic, it takes longer for cargo to reach its destination. The cost of goods goes up when food is spoiled, when time-sensitive items arrive too late, or when businesses need to extend their hours to accept late deliveries.
Credit
Noah Berger
So, what can we do to fight congestion?
When you travel for work or play, consider leaving your personal vehicle at home. Public transit, walking and biking are good options for many trips. Some 52% of trips are less than 3 miles long, and 28% of trips are less than one mile.
With the right safety infrastructure (like sidewalks and bike lanes), it’s possible for many people to travel without a car.
Credit
Joey Kotfica
What is MTC doing to help?
MTC is developing policies, research and resources to improve the experience of people who are traveling without a personal vehicle.
The Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Policy is just one piece of a larger puzzle to improve communities and bring resources together so more people can walk or roll to their destination.
Learn about the TOC Policy.