RST: Traffic congestion in Central PA

Radio Smart Talk for Tuesday, July 9:

Traffic congestion is just a way of life for most motorists. On a normal day, the places where traffic slows down and backs up is expected as part of the daily commute and is built into the time planned for getting to work or the destination. Just because it’s part of a typical day doesn’t make it any less frustrating or stressful however.

But think about this the next time you’re stuck in traffic — congestion in the Harrisburg-York-Lancaster region cost commuters $472 million in hours and fuel costs each year. That’s about 25 hours, 11 gallons of gas, or $460 annually.

Those figures are from the Washington D.C. based transportation think tank TRIP.

The group recently released a study that ranked the region’s 14 most congested roads. Ten of the roads are in York and Lancaster Counties and the other four are in the Harrisburg area.

Frank Moretti, TRIP’s director of Research and Policy will be a guest on Tuesday’s Radio Smart Talk to identify the hot spots and what can be done to relieve congestion.

What ideas do you suggest to relieve traffic congestion?

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Top Congested Commuter Routes in Central PA:

1. Rohrerstown Road from Wabank Road to State Street in Lancaster. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 108 hours, 46 additional gallons of gas, and $1,995 annually or $38 weekly

2. US 222 from New Danville Pike to the PA 501/PA 272 intersection in Lancaster. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 75 hours, 32 additional gallons of gas, and $1,381 annually or $27 weekly.

3. I-81 from Walnut Bottom Road to the Dauphin-Lebanon County Line in Harrisburg. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 67 hours, 29 additional gallons of gas, and $1,227 annually or $24 weekly.

4. Marietta Pike (PA 23) from Orange Street to Stony Battery Road in Lancaster. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 50 hours, 21 additional gallons of gas, and $921 annually or $18 weekly.

5. Country Club and Rathon Road from Kings Mill Road to Midland Avenue in York. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 50 hours, 21 additional gallons of gas, and $921 annually or $18 weekly.

6. Loucks Road and Arsenal Road from the PA 74 entrance ramp to the North Hills Road in York. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 42 hours, 18 additional gallons of gas, and $767 annually or $15 weekly.

7. PA 283 from I-76 to I-83 in Harrisburg. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 25 hours, 11 additional gallons of gas, and $460 annually or $9 weekly.

8. US 22 from Herr Street to Mountain Road in Harrisburg. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 25 hours, 11 additional gallons of gas, and $460 annually or $9 weekly.

9. Lititz Pike (PA 501) from Oregon Pike to Newport Road in Lancaster. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 25 hours, 11 additional gallons of gas, and $460 annually or $9 weekly.

10. Mount Rose Avenue (PA 124) from Wheatlyn Drive to Cape Horn Road in York. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 25 hours, 11 additional gallons of gas, and $460 annually or $9 weekly.

11. Cape Horn Road and Edgewood Road from Overview Drive to Ruppert Road in York. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 25 hours, 11 additional gallons of gas, and $460 annually or $9 weekly.

12. I-83 from the Cumberland-York counties line to I-81 in Harrisburg. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 17 hours, 7 additional gallons of gas, and $307 annually or $6 weekly.

13. King and Orange Streets from Broad Street to West End Avenue in Lancaster. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 17 hours, 7 additional gallons of gas, and $307 annually or $6 weekly.

14. Church Road, George Street and Emig Road from Church Road to Busser Road in York. This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 17 hours, 7 additional gallons of gas, and $307 annually or $6 weekly.

**Based on a June 2013 TRIP report. TRIP is anational nonprofit transportation research
group based in Washington, DC. TRIP is sponsored by insurance companies, equipment manufacturers and businesses involved in highway and transit engineering and construction.