Why we're always stuck in traffic
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No, you're not imagining it — Columbus traffic is getting worse, and a little weird.
Why it matters: A surge of remote work during the pandemic made it seem like we might have left rush hour behind. But instead, it's back, longer and less predictable.
By the numbers: The average Columbus-area car commuter spent a record 58 hours stuck in traffic last year, per the Texas A&M Transportation Institute's 2025 Urban Mobility Report.
- Across all local drivers, that's a whopping 59 million hours wasted.
Between the lines: Congestion isn't just annoying — it's expensive. Delays cost local commuters an average of $1,635 last year in wasted fuel and time, per the report.
- That's more than our average month's rent.
The big picture: Columbus drivers have the most delays in Ohio, but it could be worse. The average U.S. driver spent a record 63 hours last year stuck in traffic.
- That's more than any other year dating back to 1982, when the dataset began.
What they found: While traditional rush hours are returning nationwide amid return-to-office mandates, researchers also found a "noticeable rise in midday congestion," likely tied to hybrid work and shifting travel habits.
- The researchers used data from the Federal Highway Administration and INRIX, a transportation analytics firm.
The intrigue: Thursday has taken over Friday nationally as the worst day for delays.
- Locally, 2024 congestion was spread pretty evenly from 3-6pm during the workweek, except Mondays, which were the least busy.
🤷♀️ Our thought bubble: We don't blame you for handling Mondays at home, if you've got the option.
What we're watching: The Ohio Department of Transportation is in the midst of a massive highway overhaul to improve downtown's most congested and crash-prone stretches, but we won't see the end result for quite a while.
- Construction is expected to continue into the 2030s — just slightly longer than an afternoon gridlock.