Traffic congestion

[Fox Mike]

Well Maryland has got one up on California.
Based on early 2026 data, Maryland, California, Hawaii, and Washington are ranked among the states with the worst traffic congestion and driving conditions, often due to high traffic volume, poor infrastructure, and significant time lost to delays. Other states consistently cited for poor driving experiences include Nevada, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Top States with Worst Traffic & Driving Conditions (2026)

• Maryland: Ranked as having the worst traffic and infrastructure in the nation, making it one of the most difficult states to drive in.
• California: Consistently ranks high in traffic congestion, with many of the nation's busiest highway locations.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Sta...-EcwgcJMC4yMC4yNS4yyAeSAYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz

 

[Yaworski]

I lived in Maryland for twenty years and I would put Maryland head and shoulders above Pennsylvania. I never thought that Maryland roads were that bad but I've been out of the state for twenty years. Twenty mile trip to the county seat usually took half an hour. When my wife was in labor, the twenty mile trip to her hospital in DC took about fifteen minutes.

 

[sfhogman]

California's big coastal cities- SF Bay Area, LA, San Diego, etc. are very congested, but as soon as you leave these areas, congestion is not a problem...most of the state is mountains, agricultural or high desert. North of Santa Rosa the population is pretty sparse...more redwoods than people.

 

[xTopGun]

Well Maryland has got one up on California.
Based on early 2026 data, Maryland, California, Hawaii, and Washington are ranked among the states with the worst traffic congestion and driving conditions, often due to high traffic volume, poor infrastructure, and significant time lost to delays. Other states consistently cited for poor driving experiences include Nevada, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Top States with Worst Traffic & Driving Conditions (2026)

• Maryland: Ranked as having the worst traffic and infrastructure in the nation, making it one of the most difficult states to drive in.
• California: Consistently ranks high in traffic congestion, with many of the nation's busiest highway locations.

https://www.google.com/search?q=States+with+the+worst+trafic+in+2026+&sca_esv=749643057e46af53&sxsrf=ANbL-n7dPrs_HPEMhjJaFiuDt96yto0ckw:1778691292637&source=hp&ei=3KwEao75I6qw5NoPg_fnCQ&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAagS67CYYBk_ufdZQNrxWP2qj8NAjz3jF&ved=0ahUKEwiO16O13baUAxUqGFkFHYP7OQEQ4dUDCCE&uact=5&oq=States+with+the+worst+trafic+in+2026+&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IiVTdGF0ZXMgd2l0aCB0aGUgd29yc3QgdHJhZmljIGluIDIwMjYgMgcQIRgKGKABMgcQIRgKGKABMgcQIRgKGKABMgcQIRgKGKABMgcQIRirAhgKSOTvAlDca1j26QJwAXgAkAEAmAGEAaAB8hqqAQQ0MS41uAEDyAEA-AEBmAIvoALqHKgCCsICBxAjGOoCGCfCAgoQLhjoBhjqAhgnwgITEC4YxwEY0QMYnQYY6AYY6gIYJ8ICCxAuGIAEGMcBGNEDwgIOEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAhEQLhiABBixAxiDARjHARjRA8ICBRAuGIAEwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAgQQABgDwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAhQQLhiABBiKBRixAxiDARjHARjRA8ICChAuGIAEGIoFGCfCAgQQIxgnwgIKECMYngYY8AUYJ8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECwgIOEC4YgAQYsQMYxwEY0QPCAgoQABiABBgUGIcCwgIREC4YgAQYigUYsQMYxwEY0QPCAggQABiABBixA8ICERAuGMcBGLEDGNEDGIAEGIoFwgINEAAYgAQYFBiHAhixA8ICBRAAGIAEwgILEC4YgAQYxwEYrwHCAgsQLhivARjHARiABMICEBAuGIAEGBQYhwIYsQMYgwHCAggQLhixAxiABMICBhAAGBYYHsICCxAAGIAEGIoFGIYDwgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgUQABjvBcICBxAAGIAEGA3CAggQABgFGB4YDcICBhAAGB4YDcICBRAhGJIDmAMJ8QVzRbjACNrUTpIHBDQwLjegB-bcArIHBDM5Lje4B-EcwgcJMC4yMC4yNS4yyAeSAYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz

I almost always shake my head when I hear someone say, "America, the greatest country in the world!" B/S I say... Norway implemented a high-speed toll system on their highways back in '86, and NYS did it in 2020 some 40 years later. Europe has had a high-speed rail system since '80, while the US has yet to get one into service; but, the US does have over 100,00 miles of dormant track available. Now, I won't even go into air service So much for the greatest . . . . .

But, I do have to add that if the bulk of driver's would get their heads out of their nether region and driver responsibly by focusing on their driving and not making that their last priority then traffic "might" flow just a tad-bit smoother and quicker - maybe.....

 

[Yaworski]

So much for the greatest . . . . .

Oddly, people from those great countries are opting to move to this not so great country. I also notice that you're still living in this country that sucks.

 

[xTopGun]

Oddly, people from those great countries are opting to move to this not so great country.

well perhaps, but I'm willing to wager that it's not due to travelling conditions... maybe it's the recent influx of pedestrian traffic

 

[themousethatroared]

They stopped fixing our roads, and started building sidewalks with curb cuts everywhere. The county announced that they were broke, and that there would be no more road repair until we all agreed to be bled dry with new taxes, but we're gettin' new sidewalks. There is zero congestion on the sidewalks, but more than double the congestion on the roads, because they have one lane closed everywhere for the equipment to build the sidewalks.

We think they are getting us ready for a post-automobile world, where we will all be walking. Not sure if it is because gasoline will be too expensive, or that they will ban cars.

The one road they did repave in the last couple years, after a decade of being rattled to death with no one paying attention to all the complaints, that road they are digging a trench down the center of, to replace the fire hydrants. They're gonna need a lot of horses to pull the fire engines hauling the hoses to hook up to all those hydrants. Or maybe they will haul hundreds of buckets for bucket brigades. But it can't be buckets, because they banned those in the county, but that's a different story for another day.

 

[Jeepnik]

California's big coastal cities- SF Bay Area, LA, San Diego, etc. are very congested, but as soon as you leave these areas, congestion is not a problem...most of the state is mountains, agricultural or high desert. North of Santa Rosa the population is pretty sparse...more redwoods than people.

Maybe up north. But down here from the ocean to the desert and the border to about Camarillo has heavy traffic at times.

 

[xTopGun]

They stopped fixing our roads, and started building sidewalks with curb cuts everywhere. The county announced that they were broke, and that there would be no more road repair until we all agreed to be bled dry with new taxes, but we're gettin' new sidewalks. There is zero congestion on the sidewalks, but more than double the congestion on the roads, because they have one lane closed everywhere for the equipment to build the sidewalks.

We think they are getting us ready for a post-automobile world, where we will all be walking. Not sure if it is because gasoline will be too expensive, or that they will ban cars.

The one road they did repave in the last couple years, after a decade of being rattled to death with no one paying attention to all the complaints, that road they are digging a trench down the center of, to replace the fire hydrants. They're gonna need a lot of horses to pull the fire engines hauling the hoses to hook up to all those hydrants. Or maybe they will haul hundreds of buckets for bucket brigades. But it can't be buckets, because they banned those in the county, but that's a different story for another day.

you can't have horses either due to the illegal release of methane gas, along with unlawful deposits of waste on causeways . . . . . Burn Baby Burn

 

[Paul B]

I left San Francisco back in 1968 for several reasons. Even back then traffic was a heck of a hassle. If you took the freeway you had to pray there was no accident. If there was, the rubberneckers made damn sure traffic would be badly slowed. There were two streets running ease to west. One was Fell street and I forget the other.I think it was Oak street but not sure. What was nice about those two one way streets is the traffic lights were synchronized to IIRC 45 MPH. You catch the green doing 45 and you could go from almost downtown to the panhandle of Golden Gate park literally nonstop. Ge fly in the soup was there always was a few idiots who caught a red light and then didn't drive properly so the could catch all the green lights. GRRRR! About the only time I went back was for the Holidays or maybe a birthday if I could swing a time off. Most of the time I could not so had to be satisfied with a phone call or two.
Paul B.

 

[Fox Mike]

I , and others here, can verify just how bad it can be. A trip through the Harbor Tunnel or in the I-795/695 area each day is almost "walk and beat traffic" speed. Same thing ever day after work. It is horrible

 

[Yaworski]

well perhaps, but I'm willing to wager that it's not due to travelling conditions... maybe it's the recent influx of pedestrian traffic

Still, you say America sucks and yet, you're still here.

Planes and the car killed rail travel in this country. That's why we have AmTrak.

 

[xTopGun]

Still, you say America sucks and yet, you're still here.

Planes and the car killed rail travel in this country. That's why we have AmTrak.

Now, now, don't go putting words in someone else's mouth, or try and change the narrative.... "I" never said that at all, it's just not as great as many people might think..... if it were then the US might have been the first to implement those services I mentioned.... hmmmm

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I , and others here, can verify just how bad it can be. A trip through the Harbor Tunnel or in the I-795/695 area each day is almost "walk and beat traffic" speed. Same thing ever day after work. It is horrible

I can verify 100%. When my territory included of Montgomery County/Northern Va I didn't think it could get much worse than 66, 495, 270 all the way up to Frederick and 15N backed up from base traffic. BUT......695 out of Sparrows Point to 795, to 140 through all of Westminster to Taneytown to Emmitsburg and into PA towards Gettysburg is just plain brutal. Always at least two accidents on 695 daily. The clogging of traffic from folks trying to get on 70 causes backups all the way to the 795 exit. Accident on 795? forget about it....especially at the Owings Mills area.

14 more days and a wake up.....this trip will never be made again. THANK GOD....117,000 miles on the Malibu in the past 4yrs.....I only bought it for the commute. It sat every weekend. The TUE after I retire I have a appt with Carmax to sell it to them.

Getting ready to step out of the office now and make the journey.....it's just past 600PM.....should be home by 815PM.

 

[Kevin]

I can verify 100%. When my territory included of Montgomery County/Northern Va I didn't think it could get much worse than 66, 495, 270 all the way up to Frederick and 15N backed up from base traffic. BUT......695 out of Sparrows Point to 795, to 140 through all of Westminster to Taneytown to Emmitsburg and into PA towards Gettysburg is just plain brutal. Always at least two accidents on 695 daily. The clogging of traffic from folks trying to get on 70 causes backups all the way to the 795 exit. Accident on 795? forget about it....especially at the Owings Mills area.

14 more days and a wake up.....this trip will never be made again. THANK GOD....117,000 miles on the Malibu in the past 4yrs.....I only bought it for the commute. It sat every weekend. The TUE after I retire I have a appt with Carmax to sell it to them.

Getting ready to step out of the office now and make the journey.....it's just past 600PM.....should be home by 815PM.

A two hour commute????

Wow!

Here in Dallas, they have started construction season, it will go for the next 365 days. Just about every major road to get somewhere is being worked on in one section or another.

Or take 635 going East of 75. It’s been under construction since 2019. Not kidding. It must be billions and billions of dollars.

On Friday my wife and I are going to go look at a house for sale out of town on 3 1/5 acres.

 

[Fox Mike]

A 35 miles trip. on I-95 to my daughter's. can take over an hour either way due to morning backups or night backups; since one needs to use the Harbor Tunnel.to get there .I didn't even bring up the DC beltway and adjoining highways. They too are AWFUL I-495- I 66 is absolutely a nightmare daily.

 

[Yaworski]

it were then the US might have been the first to implement those services I mentioned.... hmmmm

They weren't needed because we have planes and cars. Places where cars are uncommon use rail.

 

[Kevin]

I didn't even bring up the Washington beltway and adjoining highways. They too are AWFUL I-495- I 66 is absolutely a nightmare daily

I've been to Washington DC, but not for a long time. I remember though they had special lanes on the beltway for electric vehicles only, or something like that. Does stuff like that help?

I can't imagine why people would subject themselves to driving on highways like that on a daily basis. I know there are all sorts of reasons though.

When we lived in Palatine, (Chicago NW Suburbs) it could take 2 hours to drive the 30 miles or so into Chicago. IF we had to go downtown, we would just take the train.

 

[xTopGun]

They weren't needed because we have planes and cars. Places where cars are uncommon use rail.

that's hardly a logical argument..... if they used trains so much why the great need for those early services....

 

[GHollan]

Washington State seems to have traffic congestion by design. Jay Inslee and his Man Made Global warming grift took it up a level and it keeps getting worse. Plenty is being spent on light rail but urban sprawl is not conducive to efficient rail transportation like more condensed communities might be. I watch nearly empty rail cars roll by àll the time while I sit in traffic. if they made even a minimal effort to build and improve roads and add lanes, idling cars in stop and go traffic would not produce as much exhaust, productive time would increase, and people could spend more time with their family and friends.

 

[Yaworski]

that's hardly a logical argument.....

It's very logical. Why take a train if a car is more convenient for a short trip and a plane is quicker for a long trip?

if they used trains so much why the great need for those early services....

The trains were the early services which people in America used so your comment makes no sense.

 

[peachhead]

They have been making noise about high speed rail in GA for years and nothing has happened. When I visit places that have trains I use them. When I go to ATL, depending on what I'm going for, I park somewhere and take marta. Unfortunately marta doesn't go everywhere it could, because not everywhere voted to have it.
When I was in DC I took the metro everywhere. It was great. Down here in my little town we don't need it locally but if we had a good rail system to ATL or Savannah I would definitely use it.
Traffic is definitely worse in bigger cities because people don't have any freaking sense.

 

[Yaworski]

When I was in DC I took the metro everywhere. It was great.

I lived outside of DC for twenty years. The nearest Metro station was a 20 minute drive from my house and at least a half an hour ride into the District. I could drive there and park in twenty minutes if it wasn't rush hour. The Metro is really only useful if your destination in along one of the spokes and close to a station until you get to the downtown area.

This brought back a nice memory. When I had a 9-5 job in the district, I would take the Metro. One morning I was on the train and I looked out the window to see my wife's car on the road that paralleled the tracks. She saw me and started waving and I waved back. Happened one time out of hundreds of trips.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

They'll start fixing the roads as soon as they get all the bike paths finished , for the bicyclist that don't pay any road tax.

 

[protoolman]

Americas a big country. Why would we want to expand high speed rail? 90% of us live in states with no access to public transportation. I've been on a subway once in my life and in a taxi a dozen times. I rode a greyhound bus once. In any town I've ever lived in if you didn't drive your own car you couldn't go grocery shopping and get to work unless maybe you rented an apartment a block from both. Countries with a lot of public transport tend to be the size of a small state, with population concentrated in a few huge cities.

 

[sfhogman]

My preferred way of getting around San Francisco. Taken at the National Cemetery.

 

[blume357]

Some how they missed my town, Greenville, S.C. because half the country it seems has decided to move here in the last 20 years or so it is now a real mess. If we had over the last 20 years used the couple trillion dollars we spent on saving the oil and sheiks pumping it in the mideast on a high speed train system we actually still would be the greatest country on the planet.

 

[Fox Mike]

Where I am there is the MARC (Maryland Area Rail Commuter) and the AMTRAK however, you still have to get to the station and unless you live in Aberdeen or Edgewood you still have to drive there.
This is the general traffic I spoke of earlier at I-695/I-795. The traffic on the right is 'almost stationary". This is everyday.

 

[32shooter]

I don't see how people drive in that mess daily. I wouldn't be able to handle it. I worked at the same place for 39 years, retired about a year ago. I had about a 20 minute commute, my biggest problem was cows crossing the road, Amish buggies and e- bikes. Most of the Amish now have e- bikes, but for the most part our roads don't have bike/ buggy lanes. We have had quite a number of Amish killed on bikes.

We passed a 1/4 % sales tax in the county just to be used for road repairs. They get repaved, and we also have lines painted on them. We get a lot of tourists in the county with the Amish here, so at least anytime they buy something they are helping to fix the roads. They traffic gets bad in a few towns, but I just try to avoid them.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

A two hour commute????

At least....one little fender bender and it adds a considerable amount of time.

.I didn't even bring up the DC beltway and adjoining highways. They too are AWFUL I-495- I 66 is absolutely a nightmare daily.

I did...it's another mess.

I've been to Washington DC, but not for a long time. I remember though they had special lanes on the beltway for electric vehicles only, or something like that. Does stuff like that help?

Nothing for electric vehicles. I think you may be thinking of the HOV lanes.....it was designed to get folks to car pool (must have at least two in car to use).....but they jam up also.

The Metro is really only useful if your destination in along one of the spokes and close to a station until you get to the downtown area.

The only thing the Metro was useful for was bring more crime in Germantown/Gaithersburg/Rockville/Bethesda......it's all one big Wash DC now...

Where I am there is the MARC (Maryland Area Rail Commuter)

Yep another great tool for transporting crime. Fredrick wasn't too bad until the MARC was brought there......crime from DC/Mont Co almost instantly happened.

I don't see how people drive in that mess daily. I wouldn't be able to handle it. I worked at the same place for 39 years, retired about a year ago. I had about a 20 minute commute, my biggest problem was cows crossing the road,

14 more days and I won't have to. It's strange because I go from traffic jams with cars to getting behind trucks and tractors/farm equipment. I have about 40 minutes of back roads to get home....easily clogged by farm equipment. 14 more days..........