The 2011 U.S. Traffic Scorecard indicates that traffic congestion was down 30% last year from 2010 in the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas. It marks the largest decrease since December 2007. Data from the study point to rising gas prices, stagnant employment growth and reduced construction as the major factors affecting traffic totals.
In total, 70 of the 100 metro areas saw congestion drop last year, leaving 30 where it rose. Minneapolis had the largest individual drop while traffic increased the most in Tampa.