Traffic Summary for Amherst
In 2024, Amherst, MA is heavily reliant on cars as the primary mode of transportation, with no significant usage of public transport or alternative methods. The city's traffic patterns indicate a high level of CO2 emissions, reflecting the environmental impact of this car dependency.
Average Commute Times
- Car - For those commuting by car, the average driving time is 20 minutes, covering a distance of 16.1 kilometers.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the academic year due to the presence of university students. Winter weather can lead to more challenging driving conditions, affecting commute times.
Commuter Pain Points
Limited public transportation options force reliance on cars, increasing traffic congestion. Parking availability can be a significant issue, especially during peak times.
Best Travel Times
Early mornings and late evenings are typically the best times to avoid traffic congestion. Weekends generally see lighter traffic compared to weekdays.
Event Impacts
University events and local festivals can significantly impact traffic, leading to increased congestion. Planning travel around these events can help mitigate delays.
Sustainability Efforts
Amherst is exploring initiatives to promote cycling and walking to reduce car dependency. Efforts are underway to improve public transportation infrastructure to offer more sustainable commuting options.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services have started to gain popularity, offering an alternative to car ownership. These services can help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, potentially easing traffic congestion.
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
"Key Takeaways"
Amherst's transportation system is heavily car-dependent, leading to high CO2 emissions.
There is potential to improve traffic efficiency by encouraging the use of public transport and other sustainable commuting options.
Key Indexes
EmissionsAmherst has a CO2 emission index of 5320, indicating a significant environmental impact from car usage.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting alternative transportation methods.
TimeThe time index for Amherst is 20, suggesting relatively moderate traffic delays.
Commuters experience an average driving time of 20 minutes, which is consistent across different categories.
InefficiencyThe inefficiency index is 59.8, highlighting potential areas for improvement in traffic management.
Reducing car dependency could help improve traffic flow and reduce inefficiencies.