Traffic Summary for Long Beach
In 2024, Long Beach, CA, sees a dominant reliance on cars for commuting, with over 91% of residents using them as their primary mode of transportation. Despite the heavy car usage, train travel accounts for a small but significant portion of commutes, highlighting a potential area for public transport growth.
Average Commute Times
- Car - For car commuters, the average driving time is about 35.91 minutes, covering an average distance of 22.63 miles.
- Train - Train commuters experience an average travel time of 45 minutes, with a longer average distance of 32.19 miles.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the summer months due to tourism and local events. Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic as residents travel less frequently.
Commuter Pain Points
High car dependency leads to frequent traffic jams, especially during peak hours. Limited public transportation options make it challenging for non-car owners to commute efficiently.
Best Travel Times
Commuters are advised to travel before 7 AM or after 7 PM to avoid peak traffic congestion. Midday travel between 10 AM and 3 PM is generally smoother with less traffic.
Event Impacts
Large public events, such as the Long Beach Grand Prix, significantly impact traffic, causing delays and road closures. Concerts and festivals at the Long Beach Convention Center also contribute to temporary traffic increases.
Sustainability Efforts
Long Beach is investing in bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly pathways to encourage alternative commuting methods. The city is exploring electric bus options to reduce public transport emissions.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of personal vehicles on the road, slightly easing congestion. However, increased ride-sharing can lead to more short trips, contributing to traffic in busy areas.
Traffic Rankings
The Traffic Index for the United States combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in United States, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Traffic Data
Overall average travel
Average when primarily using Car
Average when primarily using Train
"Key Takeaways"
Long Beach's traffic is heavily car-dependent, leading to high CO2 emissions.
Investing in public transportation infrastructure could alleviate traffic congestion and reduce emissions.
Key Indexes
EmissionsThe CO2 emissions index is notably high at 8830.83, reflecting the heavy reliance on cars.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on increasing public transport usage.
TimeThe time index is 36.67, indicating moderate traffic delays.
Improving traffic flow could significantly reduce commute times.
InefficiencyThe inefficiency index stands at 209.75, suggesting room for improvement in traffic management.
Strategies to enhance road efficiency could benefit overall traffic conditions.