Traffic Summary for Portland
In 2024, Portland, ME sees a predominant reliance on cars for commuting, with 90% of residents using this mode of transport. Despite the high car usage, the average commute time remains relatively low, indicating efficient traffic flow within the city.
Average Commute Times
- Car - Car commuters experience an average driving time of 20.33 minutes, covering a distance of about 18.43 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the summer months due to tourism. Winter weather can occasionally disrupt traffic flow, leading to longer commute times.
Commuter Pain Points
Limited public transportation options make car travel almost a necessity. Parking availability can be a challenge in downtown areas, especially during peak hours.
Best Travel Times
Early mornings before 8 AM are generally the best times to travel to avoid congestion. Late evenings after 7 PM also see reduced traffic levels.
Event Impacts
Public events such as festivals and sports games can significantly impact traffic, especially in the downtown area. Planning travel around these events can help avoid delays.
Sustainability Efforts
Portland is exploring initiatives to expand bike lanes and improve public transit infrastructure. Efforts are underway to promote electric vehicle usage through increased charging station availability.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, particularly during peak hours. These services offer a flexible alternative to car ownership, contributing to reduced traffic congestion.
Traffic Rankings
Portland ranks 34th 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
"Key Takeaways"
Encouraging the use of public transportation or cycling could help reduce CO2 emissions.
Implementing traffic management solutions could improve the inefficiency index.
Key Indexes
EmissionsPortland's CO2 emissions index is 5408.67, reflecting the high reliance on cars.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting alternative transportation methods.
TimeThe time index is 21.11, indicating moderate traffic delays.
Commute times are generally stable, with minimal waiting times reported.
InefficiencyThe inefficiency index stands at 95.61, suggesting room for improvement in traffic management.
Strategies to enhance traffic flow could significantly reduce inefficiencies.