Traffic Summary for Sacramento
In 2024, Sacramento's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with a significant portion of the population relying on personal vehicles for their daily commutes. Despite the heavy reliance on cars, there is a growing interest in alternative modes of transport such as walking and cycling, reflecting a shift towards more sustainable commuting options.
Average Commute Times
- Car - Car commuters spend approximately 28.3 minutes driving, covering an average distance of 21.46 km.
- Walking - Walking commutes average around 20.7 minutes, primarily for shorter distances of about 2 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourism peaks, leading to longer commute times. Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic congestion, as adverse weather conditions discourage travel.
Commuter Pain Points
High dependency on cars leads to frequent traffic jams, especially during rush hours. Limited public transportation options make it challenging for non-drivers to commute efficiently.
Best Travel Times
Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 7 PM are generally the best times to avoid heavy traffic. Midday travel between 10 AM and 3 PM can also offer smoother commutes.
Event Impacts
Large public events, such as concerts and sports games, significantly impact traffic, often causing delays and road closures. Planning travel around these events can help avoid unexpected congestion.
Sustainability Efforts
Sacramento is investing in bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to encourage sustainable commuting. The city is also exploring electric vehicle incentives to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, offering a flexible alternative to car ownership. However, they can also contribute to congestion in popular areas during peak times.
Traffic Rankings
Sacramento ranks 56th on the Traffic rankings in United States. 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 Walking
"Key Takeaways"
Promoting alternative transportation methods such as cycling and walking could help reduce CO2 emissions and traffic congestion.
Investing in public transportation infrastructure could provide viable alternatives to car travel, enhancing overall traffic efficiency.
Key Indexes
EmissionsSacramento's CO2 emissions index is notably high at 6456.03, indicating significant environmental impact from transportation.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting public transport and non-motorized commuting options.
TimeThe time index of 27.09 suggests moderate traffic delays, particularly during peak hours.
Commuters experience an average time expansion index of 34.49, reflecting additional time spent in traffic.
InefficiencyWith an inefficiency index of 125.71, Sacramento's traffic system faces challenges in optimizing flow and reducing congestion.
Improving traffic signal coordination and encouraging off-peak travel could help alleviate inefficiencies.