The 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard from INRIX has listed Philadelphia as one of the most congested cities both in the United States and globally, writes Jonathan Diamond for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
The report found that during 2025, commuters in Philadelphia lost an average of 101 hours to extended travel, placing it third in the United States, surpassed only by Chicago at 112 hours and New York at 102. Los Angeles ranked fourth, with commuters losing 87 hours. Boston round out the top five, with 83 hours lost.
Philadelphia came in fifth globally, with Istanbul, Turkey, leading the list at 118 lost hours and Mexico City ranking third with 108 hours. The region also saw the largest year-over-year rise in commute delays among the top ten cities, up 31 percent from its No. 13 spot in 2024 and 46 percent from 2023.
Drivers in the Philadelphia area lost the equivalent of over 12.5 workdays travelling to and from work, with the average cost per driver estimated at $1,860 and the overall cost to the region of $4.4 billion.
According to Inrix, the route with the greatest delay increase in the region was during morning rush hour on southbound I-95 leaving the city, around 173 percent.
Read more about how Philadelphia traffic fares nationally and globally in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
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