In 2024, Roanoke, VA, sees a heavy reliance on cars as the primary mode of transportation, with 100% of commuters using personal vehicles. The city's traffic data reveals significant CO2 emissions and inefficiencies, prompting a need for sustainable transportation solutions.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Roanoke is approximately 14.57 minutes, with most of this time spent driving.
  • Car - Car commuters spend about 13.86 minutes driving, covering an average distance of 13.72 miles.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
100%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourism peaks, leading to longer commute times. Winter weather can also impact driving conditions, occasionally causing delays and increased travel times.

Commuter Pain Points

Limited public transportation options force residents to rely on cars, increasing traffic congestion. Parking availability in downtown areas can be a challenge, adding to commuter frustration.

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 10 AM and 2 PM is also relatively smooth, with less traffic on the roads.

Event Impacts

Public events such as festivals and sports games can significantly impact traffic, causing road closures and detours. Planning ahead and using alternative routes during events can help mitigate delays.

Sustainability Efforts

Roanoke is exploring initiatives to promote carpooling and the use of electric vehicles to reduce emissions. The city is also considering the development of bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly zones to encourage non-car travel.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have started to gain popularity, offering a convenient alternative to personal car use. These services can help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, potentially easing traffic congestion.

Worldwide
United States

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.

Worst to BestUpdated: Dec, 2024
Full Traffic Rankings

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 7 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
8.5 miles
Walking
0.7 mins
Driving Car
13.9 mins
Total:
14.6 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
8.5 miles
Walking
0.7 mins
Driving Car
13.9 mins
Total:
14.6 mins
Roanoke Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Roanoke's complete reliance on cars for commuting highlights the need for alternative transportation options.

Implementing public transportation systems could significantly reduce CO2 emissions and improve traffic efficiency.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Roanoke's CO2 emissions index is notably high at 3686, reflecting the city's car dependency.

Efforts to reduce emissions are crucial as the city relies entirely on cars for commuting.

Time

The time index of 14.57 indicates moderate commute times, primarily due to efficient driving routes.

Despite the moderate time index, there is room for improvement in reducing travel times further.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index stands at 68.71, suggesting room for improvement in traffic flow and management.

Addressing inefficiencies could lead to reduced travel times and lower emissions.