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The traffic in Los Angeles is definitely as bad as advertised, especially on the freeways. It's not as bad as it was pre-pandemic currently but even now traffic is like at 90-95% of that level at times. The flip side about LA is the arterials won't be as crowded oftentimes so there's always several alternatives to get where you are going.
LA is way worse than Houston. Rush hour in LA lasts at least an hour longer in the morning and afternoon. And outside of rush hour, LA just has much more day traffic due to the sheer amount of vehicles people have, plus the amount of visitors the place receives. Houston freeways really clear up by the late mornings until mid afternoon whereas LA doesn't receive that same break for the most part. We're talking 18 million people in an urban area of about 2800 square miles. Almost the population of Florida in just 3-5% of the square miles (give or take).
Houston traffic is better than Atlanta but the difference is slim. Where Atlanta does worse than Houston is the arterials, but it's freeways are just as wide and seem as efficient despite not having as many. Atlanta's rush hour seems to clear up faster too I've noticed.
I thought Atlanta traffic was horrible, but when I visited LA traffic there just seems to be on a whole different level. Trying to commute anywhere by freeway just seems miserable.
The traffic in Los Angeles is definitely as bad as advertised, especially on the freeways. It's not as bad as it was pre-pandemic currently but even now traffic is like at 90-95% of that level at times. The flip side about LA is the arterials won't be as crowded oftentimes so there's always several alternatives to get where you are going.
LA is way worse than Houston. Rush hour in LA lasts at least an hour longer in the morning and afternoon. And outside of rush hour, LA just has much more day traffic due to the sheer amount of vehicles people have, plus the amount of visitors the place receives. Houston freeways really clear up by the late mornings until mid afternoon whereas LA doesn't receive that same break for the most part. We're talking 18 million people in an urban area of about 2800 square miles. Almost the population of Florida in just 3-5% of the square miles (give or take).
Houston traffic is better than Atlanta but the difference is slim. Where Atlanta does worse than Houston is the arterials, but it's freeways are just as wide and seem as efficient despite not having as many. Atlanta's rush hour seems to clear up faster too I've noticed.
Atlanta is worse. It has a metropolitan population over 6,000,000 but only one beltway, thanks to the thousands of NIMBYs in its northern exurbs who, ironically, are exactly why Atlanta needs a second beltway. Compounding the problem is a lack of convenient alternate routes, because the secondary road network is underbuilt and not nearly as directional as it is in Houston.
LA wasn’t really all that bad when I went there pre-covid. I was expecting it to be much worse than it was.
Main thing that Houston has over Atlanta is you can bypass a lot of congestion on toll roads. In Atlanta you can’t do that. Getting off the highway just leads to more congested side arteries which are mostly smaller streets of which many are single lane each way. Houston has better surface arterials and an actual grid outside the city center.
Houston's thru streets make a difference because most or 4 lanes with turning lanes, several are six lanes. Also , Houston is basically a grid-structured city.
Atlanta is worse. It has a metropolitan population over 6,000,000 but only one beltway, thanks to the thousands of NIMBYs in its northern exurbs who, ironically, are exactly why Atlanta needs a second beltway. Compounding the problem is a lack of convenient alternate routes, because the secondary road network is underbuilt and not nearly as directional as it is in Houston.
I agree, the secondary road network needs a lot of improvement to be a viable way to travel across the suburbs.
Sadly the outer beltway will never happen. It cost one governor re-election and even the mention of it is political suicide. I think the best hope we have is an upgrade of the existing outer arc roads, like Hwy 20 or 92.
I agree, the secondary road network needs a lot of improvement to be a viable way to travel across the suburbs.
Sadly the outer beltway will never happen. It cost one governor re-election and even the mention of it is political suicide. I think the best hope we have is an upgrade of the existing outer arc roads, like Hwy 20 or 92.
That is too bad because Atlanta needs it. The north side of the metro is growing and traffic is always bad. The secondary network is choppy and not enough sidewalks.
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