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Energy & Environment

Change in traffic congestion in most populous U.S. cities

Data: StreetLight; Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios

Downtown traffic congestion in major U.S. cities has risen significantly since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but remains short of pre-outbreak levels, per a new analysis.

Why it matters: The pandemic has been an opportunity for cities to rethink their approach to car traffic.

New York City, for instance, is moving forward with "congestion pricing" — essentially tolling downtown-bound drivers — to reduce the number of cars on the road.

Details: Traffic congestion — as measured by the amount of time vehicles spend in traffic compared to the time such travel would take in free-flow conditions — is down about 27% across major U.S. cities' downtowns compared to pre-pandemic levels, per research from traffic data firm StreetLight. 

Downtown congestion is closest to its pre-pandemic levels in San Diego, Phoenix and Houston.

It's furthest from these levels in Chicago, Philadelphia and San Jose.

The big picture: The resurgence in downtown traffic "may signal good news for the economy, but it's bad news for overall emissions and quality of life as traffic congestion makes a comeback across America," reads StreetLight's report.

Traffic is coming back to downtowns across America

Downtown traffic levels have nearly reached pre-pandemic levels.

Cities

Economy & Business

Homes across the northern Philippines were flooded and without power on Monday after the deadly Typhoon Noru swept through.

The big picture: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. flew over flood-affected regions on Monday to survey the damage from the most powerful typhoon to strike the country this year. 

Gov. Daniel Fernando of Bulacan province, north of Manila, told local media five rescue workers were killed after the storm struck Sunday.

Context: Climate change is enabling typhoons and hurricanes to dump more rainfall, Axios' climate and energy reporter Andrew Freedman notes.

Research indicates the intensity and frequency of such storms is increasing with climate change.

Powerful typhoon floods northern Philippines

Officials said at least 5 people have died in the most powerful typhoon to hit the country this year.

A resident enters his flooded home in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Noru in San Ildefonso, Bulacan province on September 26.

A resident enters his flooded home in the aftermath of Typhoon Noru in San Ildefonso, in the Bulacan province of the Philippines on Monday. Photo: Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images

Philippines

Climate change

Extreme weather

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Monday's energy & environment stories

Traffic is coming back to downtowns across America

Powerful typhoon floods northern Philippines