The worst city in the study was Los Angeles, where motorists spend an average of 56 hours a year , or more than a 40-hour work week, stuck in traffic. In Atlanta, the figure was only slightly less, 53 hours.
That number is double what it was 10 years ago. By way of comparison, in 1982, Atlanta motorists only spent 11 hours of average time stuck in traffic.
The new group seeking to solve the problem, which obviously could have an impact on future commercial development, is Midtown Transportation Solutions. The venture has a paid staff thanks to a federal grant. The program director is Dan Hourigan.
The group plans to work with city government, Midtown residents and employers to encourage alternatives to driving. "Trying to get people out of cars is not easy," says Hourigan.
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David Wilkening
David Wilkening began his long journalism career as a police reporter for Chicago-area newspapers. He became a writer-editor for major newspapers in Chicago, Washington, Detroit and Florida. He has been a business editor, political editor and travel editor for newspapers and magazines. He tried for a while to be a political operative but did better as an adjunct college professor teaching English and journalism. He is the author of several books, both ghost-written and under his own name. He is also a widely published freelance writer who currently lives in Orlando.
