Traffic Summary for Medford
In 2024, Medford, OR sees a predominant use of cars for commuting, with 80% of residents opting for this mode of transport. Walking is the second most popular mode of transportation, accounting for 20% of the commuting share, reflecting a compact city layout.
Average Commute Times
- Car - Car commuters spend around 16 minutes driving over a distance of 10.46 km.
- Walking - Walking commutes take about 60 minutes, with an additional 20 minutes on the bus, covering 5 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourism peaks, leading to longer commute times. Winter months see a decrease in walking commutes due to colder weather, increasing reliance on cars.
Commuter Pain Points
Limited public transport options lead to high car dependency. Traffic congestion during peak hours causes delays and inefficiencies.
Best Travel Times
Commuters can avoid peak hour congestion by traveling before 7 AM or after 7 PM. Midday travel between 10 AM and 2 PM is generally smoother with less traffic.
Event Impacts
Public events such as the annual Pear Blossom Festival significantly impact traffic, requiring road closures and detours. Sporting events at local venues also contribute to temporary traffic spikes.
Sustainability Efforts
Medford is exploring initiatives to expand bike lanes and improve pedestrian pathways to encourage eco-friendly commuting. The city is considering incentives for electric vehicle adoption to reduce carbon emissions.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services are gaining popularity, offering flexible commuting options and reducing the need for personal vehicle use. These services help alleviate parking demand in downtown areas, contributing to smoother 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"
With 80% of commuters using cars, there is a significant opportunity to promote public transport and cycling to reduce emissions.
Enhancing public transport infrastructure could decrease commute times and improve traffic flow.
Key Indexes
EmissionsMedford's CO2 emissions index is 3564.8, indicating a significant environmental impact primarily from car usage.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting alternative transportation methods.
TimeThe time index of 28.8 minutes suggests moderate commute durations across the city.
Improving public transport could help reduce overall commute times.
InefficiencyThe inefficiency index stands at 115.07, highlighting potential areas for traffic flow improvements.
Optimizing traffic signals and promoting carpooling could alleviate inefficiencies.