Milwaukee's transportation landscape in 2024 is dominated by car usage, with a significant portion of the population relying on personal vehicles for their daily commutes. Despite the high reliance on cars, there is a noticeable presence of walking and cycling, reflecting a diverse range of commuting preferences.

Average Commute Times

The average commute time in Milwaukee is approximately 30.28 minutes, with most of this time spent driving.
  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 30 minutes on the bus, with an additional 10 minutes waiting and 2 minutes walking.
  • Car - Car users experience an average driving time of 29.78 minutes, with minimal waiting time.
  • Walking - Walking commutes average 13.5 minutes, with a short driving component of 2.5 minutes.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
82%
Walking
6%
Bicycle
6%
Bus
3%
Home
3%
Seasonal Trends

Winter months see increased traffic delays due to snow and ice, impacting commute times. Summer festivals and events can lead to temporary spikes in traffic congestion.

Commuter Pain Points

Limited public transport options make car travel almost a necessity for many residents. Traffic congestion during peak hours leads to longer commute times and increased frustration.

Best Travel Times

Traveling outside of peak hours, such as mid-morning or early afternoon, can significantly reduce commute times. Weekends generally offer less congestion, making them ideal for non-essential travel.

Event Impacts

Major events at venues like the Fiserv Forum can cause localized traffic congestion, especially in the downtown area. Planning ahead for such events can help mitigate traffic disruptions.

Sustainability Efforts

Milwaukee is investing in expanding its bike lane network to encourage more sustainable commuting options. The city is exploring electric bus options to reduce public transport emissions.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the need for personal car ownership, particularly among younger residents. These services also contribute to traffic congestion during peak times, highlighting the need for strategic regulation.

Worldwide
United States

Traffic Rankings

Milwaukee ranks 41st on the Traffic rankings in United States. 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 33 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
16.4 miles
Walking
1.6 mins
Waiting
0.3 mins
Driving Car
25.3 mins
Bus / Trolley
0.9 mins
Bicycle
1.6 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Other
0.6 mins
Total:
30.3 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
7.0 miles
Walking
2.0 mins
Waiting
10.0 mins
Bus / Trolley
30.0 mins
Total:
42.0 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
18.8 miles
Walking
0.8 mins
Driving Car
29.8 mins
Total:
30.6 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
1.1 miles
Walking
13.5 mins
Driving Car
2.5 mins
Total:
16.0 mins
Milwaukee Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Car dependency is high in Milwaukee, suggesting a need for enhanced public transport options.

Promoting cycling and walking could help reduce CO2 emissions and improve overall traffic efficiency.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Milwaukee's CO2 emissions index is 6774.81, indicating a high level of emissions primarily due to car usage.

Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on increasing public transport and cycling infrastructure.

Time

The time index of 30.28 suggests moderate commute times, but there is room for improvement in public transport efficiency.

Encouraging flexible work hours could help distribute traffic more evenly throughout the day.

Inefficiency

With an inefficiency index of 167.18, Milwaukee faces challenges in optimizing traffic flow.

Investments in smart traffic management systems could alleviate congestion.