Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Austin and Seattle, no ma'am. Austin is way behind its peers in terms of a decent interstate system, way behind. Seattle has too much unavoidable congestion in its system. I would rank Phoenix as best in this list, then Houston.
One thing to keep in mind about Phoenix, is that it is not a typical city. The lack of congestion ties into the fact that the economy is based on tourism, and it is a retirement mecca. That, and the fact that many residents telecommute, lead to a mostly congestion free freeway system.
Houston's freeway system can be like hell during rush hour. When rush hour is not going on, it is heavenly. I prefer Houston's freeway system to Phoenix, because its more developed (with tollways in addition to freeways). The Hub-and-Spoke system makes it easier, with the loops such as 610, Beltway 8, and Grand Parkway. When I lived in central Scottsdale, I could only go north or south on the 101. If I wanted to west into the metro area, I had to either go really far out of the way north then west on the 101, or south on the 101 to the 202/I-10. Either that or just sit on a surface street like Camelback/Indian School/Shea. I always thought that around where Shea Blvd is should have been a major east-west highway, but its too late to ever build something like that now.
1. Salt Lake
2. Phoenix
3. Kansas City
4. Minneapolis
Denver? Denver is better now that T-Rex is complete. I-25 widened, the 225/I-25 interchange fixed, progress on the Santa Fe/Broadway ramps, the 3/4 completion of a beltway around the city and the HOV/commuter lanes up north. But "Best Freeway System"? No way.
Not on the list, but LA's in the most innovative I've seen in terms of:
- widespread metering
- HOT lanes (tolled express lanes)
- HOT/HOV flyover ramps
- integrated rapid busways and bus stations
- integrated light rail lines and stations
In terms of congestion though, its terrible. But that's the main reason for the innovations- they're out of necessity because of the sheer volume of people clogging up the roads.
Also terrible in terms of connectivity. Contrary to popular belief, most of Los Angeles was built before the freeways, so they had to be forced through the urban fabric. There are at least a dozen places in the city and immediate suburbs where freeways were successfully blocked.
Phoenix is the best in the country.
Tucson is the worst.
Spokane is definitely worse than Tucson, but those are smaller metros.
As far as larger metros go (3+ million), I'd say the worst is either Miami or Seattle... and the best is Phoenix, with Houston running a close second.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
