Traffic Summary for Silver Spring
In 2024, Silver Spring, MD, continues to rely heavily on cars as the primary mode of transportation, with over 71% of commuters using them. Walking and working from home are the next most popular options, each accounting for approximately 14% of the commuting population.
Average Commute Times
- Car - Car commuters spend about 17.2 minutes driving over a distance of 12.9 km.
- Walking - Walking commuters spend 20 minutes walking and cover a distance of 14.5 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the winter months due to adverse weather conditions, impacting commute times. Summer sees a slight decrease in traffic as many residents take vacations.
Commuter Pain Points
Traffic congestion during peak hours remains a significant issue for car commuters. Limited public transportation options make it challenging for non-car users to commute efficiently.
Best Travel Times
Traveling outside of peak hours, such as mid-morning or early afternoon, can significantly reduce commute times. Weekends generally offer smoother traffic conditions compared to weekdays.
Event Impacts
Public events in downtown Silver Spring can lead to temporary road closures and increased traffic congestion. Residents are advised to plan alternative routes during major events to avoid delays.
Sustainability Efforts
Silver Spring is exploring the expansion of bike lanes and pedestrian paths to encourage eco-friendly commuting. The city is also considering investments in electric vehicle infrastructure to support a greener transportation network.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of personal vehicles on the road, contributing to less congestion. However, the increased presence of ride-sharing vehicles can sometimes lead to traffic bottlenecks in popular 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 Walking
"Key Takeaways"
With cars being the dominant mode of transport, there is a need to diversify transportation options to reduce CO2 emissions.
Enhancing public transportation infrastructure could alleviate traffic inefficiencies and reduce commute times.
Key Indexes
EmissionsThe CO2 emissions index is at 3879.33, indicating a significant environmental impact from transportation.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting alternative transportation methods.
TimeThe time index is 22.33, reflecting moderate commute times across the city.
Improving public transportation could help reduce these times further.
InefficiencyThe inefficiency index stands at 51.81, suggesting room for improvement in traffic flow and management.
Implementing smart traffic solutions could enhance efficiency.