Baltimore's traffic congestion continued its slow climb into the top ranks among America's most jammed-up metropolitan areas last year, ranking 16th, according to a national survey.
The annual INRIX National Traffic Scoreboard shows Baltimore, the 20th largest metro area in population, steadily worsening relative to other cities since 2006. That year it ranked 21st; by 2008 it was 17th.
According to INRIX, Baltimore was one of only three of the nation's largest cities to show an increase of more than 10 percent in congestion between 2008 and 2009. Washington and Las Vegas were the other two.
The same survey showed that none of the nation's 100 worst traffic bottlenecks are in Maryland -- a finding that could puzzle commuters on such frequently jammed highways as Interstate 95 near White Marsh or Interstate 270 in Montgomery County. Maryland's exclusion reflects the near-monopoly on the worst-bottleneck list held by the nation's three most congested regions -- Los Angeles, New York and Chicago -- which together accounted for 88 of the 100. The Washington region ranked 4th worst in congestion, up from 6th in 2008, but had none of the leading bottlenecks.
To some extent, Baltimore's creep up the congestion rankings could reflect the relative strength of its economy during the recession, which has taken a toll on total driving miles nationally as people without jobs travel less. During the four-year period during which it climbed up the ranks from 21st to 16th, hard-hit San Diego fell from 12th to 17th and similarly afflicted Riverside, Calif., felll from 13th to 18th. Both metro areas rank just above Baltimore in population.
According to the INRIX survey, Baltimore's worst drive time occurs about 5 p.m. Fridays -- a typical time nationally.
According to INRIX the top 20 in congestion in 2009 were (2006 rank):
1. Los Angeles (1)
2. New York (2)
3. Chicago (3)
4. Washington (5)
5. Dallas (7)
6. Houston (9)
7. San Francisco (4)
8. Boston (11)
9. Seattle (6)
10. Philadelphia (14)
11. Atlanta (8)
12. Minneapolis (16)
13. Miami (10)
14. Phoenix (15)
15. Denver (17)
16. Baltimore (21)
17. San Diego (12)
18. Riverside CA (13)
19. San Jose CA (18)
20. Sacramento (20)