In 2024, Santa Monica's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with 100% of commuters relying on this mode of transport. The city's traffic data reveals significant CO2 emissions and inefficiencies, highlighting areas for potential improvement.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Santa Monica is 48.33 minutes, primarily due to car travel.
  • Car - Car commuters in Santa Monica spend an average of 48.33 minutes driving, covering a distance of approximately 42.38 kilometers.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
100%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourists flock to Santa Monica's beaches. Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic, offering potentially quicker commute times.

Commuter Pain Points

Heavy reliance on cars leads to frequent traffic jams, especially during peak hours. Limited public transportation options make it challenging for residents to choose alternative commuting methods.

Best Travel Times

Commuters can avoid the worst traffic by traveling before 7 AM or after 7 PM. Midday travel, between 10 AM and 3 PM, often experiences lighter traffic conditions.

Event Impacts

Public events such as festivals and marathons can significantly disrupt traffic flow, causing delays. Residents are advised to plan ahead and consider alternative routes during major events.

Sustainability Efforts

Santa Monica is exploring initiatives to expand bike lanes and improve public transportation infrastructure. Efforts to increase electric vehicle charging stations are underway to support a shift towards greener transportation.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have become a popular alternative, helping to reduce the number of cars on the road. These services offer flexible commuting options, potentially easing traffic congestion during peak times.

Worldwide
United States

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.

Worst to BestUpdated: Dec, 2024
Full Traffic Rankings

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 3 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
26.3 miles
Driving Car
48.3 mins
Total:
48.3 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
26.3 miles
Driving Car
48.3 mins
Total:
48.3 mins
Santa Monica Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Santa Monica's reliance on cars is contributing to high CO2 emissions and traffic inefficiencies.

Promoting public transportation and alternative commuting options could alleviate some of these issues.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Santa Monica has a high CO2 emission index of 12856.67, reflecting the heavy reliance on cars.

Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting alternative transportation methods.

Time

The time index of 48.33 indicates significant time spent in traffic, primarily by car users.

Reducing traffic congestion could help decrease commute times.

Inefficiency

With an inefficiency index of 249.34, Santa Monica's traffic system shows room for improvement.

Addressing traffic inefficiencies could enhance overall commute experiences.