Traffic Summary for Des Moines
In 2024, Des Moines sees a dominant reliance on cars for commuting, with a significant 90.9% of residents using this mode of transport. Walking and motorcycles are the next most common modes, each accounting for 4.5% of the commuting methods.
Average Commute Times
- Car - Car commuters spend approximately 19.45 minutes driving, with a short walking time of 0.35 minutes, over a distance of 20.49 km.
- Walking - Walking commutes take about 20 minutes, with a driving component of 15 minutes, covering a distance of 9.66 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the winter months due to adverse weather conditions affecting road safety. Summer sees a slight decrease in traffic as residents take vacations, reducing the number of daily commuters.
Commuter Pain Points
Limited public transportation options make car travel almost a necessity, leading to congestion. Parking availability and costs are common concerns for car commuters in the city.
Best Travel Times
Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 7 PM are the best times to avoid traffic congestion. Midday travel between 11 AM and 1 PM can also be less congested, offering smoother commutes.
Event Impacts
Public events, such as the Iowa State Fair, significantly increase traffic, especially around event venues. Sporting events and concerts at major venues can lead to temporary road closures and detours.
Sustainability Efforts
Des Moines is investing in bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure to encourage non-motorized commuting. The city is exploring electric vehicle incentives to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of personal vehicles on the road, easing congestion slightly. However, the increase in ride-sharing vehicles has also led to more frequent stops and starts, affecting traffic flow.
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 Walking
"Key Takeaways"
Des Moines' heavy reliance on cars contributes significantly to CO2 emissions and traffic inefficiency.
Promoting public transportation and non-motorized commuting could alleviate traffic congestion and reduce emissions.
Key Indexes
EmissionsDes Moines has a CO2 emission index of 5495.64, indicating a high level of emissions primarily due to car usage.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting alternative transportation methods.
TimeThe average time index is 23.68, reflecting moderate commute times across different modes.
Reducing car dependency could help decrease overall commute times.
InefficiencyThe traffic inefficiency index stands at 142.03, suggesting room for improvement in traffic flow and management.
Implementing smart traffic systems could enhance efficiency.