When it comes to topics that get our readers talking, Columbia’s traffic is consistently high on the list.
Whether you’re navigating stoplights down Bull Street, construction at Malfunction Junction, or driving into the setting sun on your way home to Lexington, it’s no secret — Columbia’s traffic can feel hard to escape.
According to data from the INRIX 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard, the Soda City ranked No. 121 for congestion in the US. These rankings were based on three years of travel delay comparisons, costs of congestion to drivers, and commuting trends based on metro area traffic patterns.
Here’s a breakdown of Columbia’s 2024 traffic by the numbers:
- No. 613 — Columbia’s congestion rank out of 900+ cities worldwide, compared to No. 121 in the US alone.
- 18 — The amount of hours Columbians lost in congestion last year
- $322 — The cost of congestion per driver
- 35 mph — Columbians’ average vehicle speed during peak traffic times, compared to 43 mph during low traffic times.
These busier roads mirror Columbia’s population growth over the last several years, along with ongoing road maintenance and construction to support infrastructure needs.
In other words, we’re sharing the roads with more people calling the Midlands home, so give yourself plenty of time to get to know the artists performing at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day festival in Five Points.
