Traffic Summary for Tacoma
In 2024, Tacoma's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with a significant portion of the population relying on personal vehicles for their daily commutes. Public transportation, particularly buses, plays a secondary role, while alternative modes like walking and cycling are minimally utilized.
Average Commute Times
- Bus - Bus commuters spend around 40 minutes on the bus, with additional time for waiting and walking.
- Car - Car commuters experience a driving time of approximately 44 minutes.
Traffic Breakdown
Seasonal Trends
Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourism peaks, leading to longer commute times. Winter weather conditions can also impact traffic flow, causing delays and increased travel times.
Commuter Pain Points
Heavy reliance on cars leads to congestion, particularly during rush hours. Limited options for alternative transportation modes can frustrate commuters seeking more sustainable choices.
Best Travel Times
Traveling outside of peak morning and evening rush hours can significantly reduce commute times. Midday and late evening are often the best times to avoid heavy traffic.
Event Impacts
Public events, such as concerts and sports games, can cause temporary spikes in traffic congestion. Planning routes ahead of time during such events can help mitigate delays.
Sustainability Efforts
Tacoma is exploring initiatives to expand public transportation options and promote cycling. Efforts to improve infrastructure for electric vehicles are also underway to reduce emissions.
Ride-Sharing Impact
Ride-sharing services are increasingly popular, offering flexible commuting options and potentially reducing the number of cars on the road. These services can help alleviate parking issues and contribute to lower emissions.
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 Bus
Average when primarily using Car
"Key Takeaways"
Encouraging the use of public transportation and alternative commuting methods could help reduce CO2 emissions.
Addressing traffic inefficiencies may lead to shorter commute times and improved air quality.
Key Indexes
EmissionsTacoma's CO2 emissions index is notably high at 9951.53, indicating significant environmental impact from transportation.
Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting public transport and alternative modes.
TimeThe time index of 43.71 suggests moderate traffic delays.
Improving traffic flow could enhance commute efficiency.
InefficiencyWith an inefficiency index of 312.99, Tacoma faces challenges in optimizing traffic management.
Strategies to reduce congestion could improve overall traffic efficiency.