2009 Bottleneck Analysis of 100 Freight Significant Highway Locations

May 082010

As part of the ongoing Freight Performance Measures (FPM) initiative, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Freight Management and Operations are monitoring freight significant highway locations. This research uses ATRI-developed analysis methods, customized software tools and terabytes of data from trucking operations to produce a congestion severity ranking for each of the 100 locations that are currently monitored. More specifically, this effort utilizes GPS technology and information to assess the level at which truck-based freight was affected by traffic congestion throughout 2009. The majority of the locations that are currently monitored are urban interstate interchanges. On this type of highway segment, congestion is typically problematic during AM and PM rush hours. There are, however, several locations where congestion affects freight mobility during all hours of the day, and there are other locations where congestion is not a recurring issue. To assess congestion levels at the monitored locations a congestion measure (the Congestion Index) is produced for each location; this measure is based on the severity of congestion during weekdays in 2009. Average speeds that are below free flow speeds (which is set at 55 mph) are considered to reflect congestion. The locations are listed by Congestion Index; Location 1 has the highest Congestion Index (and therefore has the highest level of congestion using this methodology). A detailed analysis for each location can be accessed by clicking on the bottleneck location. This type of information is useful to both private and public sector freight stakeholders that wish to better understand the severity of congestion and mobility constraints experienced along the transportation system. For the public sector, the measurement of freight significant congestion can allow for better-informed identification of transportation system deficiencies. This identification, in turn, may lead to infrastructure, operations and ITS investment that may improve freight mobility. Additionally, the private sector can use this type of information to calibrate routing so as to avoid peak congestion. The FPM bottleneck work will continue on an annual basis. ATRI and FHWA will be building upon this list for a 2010 analysis; if there are locations that you would like the program to monitor, please click here and submit your suggestion.

For a description of the research methodology, please click here

Congestion Ranking	Location	Avg Speed	Peak Avg Speed	Non-Peak Avg Speed	Non-Peak/ Peak Ratio	Congestion Index
1	Chicago, IL: I-290 at I-90/I-94	30	23	33	1.45	3,794,139
2	Chicago, IL: I-90 at I-94 (North)	34	23	39	1.72	2,372,408
3	Fort Lee, NJ: I-95 at SR-4	32	25	36	1.44	2,156,936
4	Austin, TX: I-35	35	21	44	2.06	1,817,805
5	Atlanta, GA: I-285 at I-85 (North)	47	36	51	1.41	1,313,889
6	St. Louis, MO: I-70 at I-64 (West)	42	36	45	1.23	1,193,975
7	Los Angeles, CA: SR-60 at SR-57	48	41	50	1.24	1,098,436
8	Dallas, TX: I-45 at I-30	44	35	47	1.34	1,056,856
9	Chicago, IL: I-90 at I-94 (South)	47	38	50	1.30	1,027,566
10	Philadelphia, PA: I-76 at US-30	36	31	37	1.21	946,575
11	Louisville, KY: I-65 at I-64/I-71	46	37	51	1.35	918,778
12	Las Vegas, NV: I-15 at I-515	38	34	40	1.16	871,065
13	Kansas City, MO: I-70 at I-670 at US71	45	44	46	1.05	842,858
14	Houston, TX: I-45 at US-59	42	32	46	1.44	807,974
15	Atlanta, GA: I-75 at I-285 (North)	49	40	54	1.33	796,020
16	Baton Rouge, LA: I-10 at I-110	46	38	49	1.29	779,358
17	New Haven, CT: I-95 at I-91	42	35	44	1.27	764,654
18	Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN: I-35W at I-494	47	38	51	1.36	762,045
19	Brooklyn, NY: I-278 at Belt Parkway	37	32	39	1.23	761,237
20	Washington, DC: I-495 at I-66	44	35	46	1.31	700,166
21	Ft. Worth, TX: I-35W at I-30	48	41	51	1.23	680,002
22	Atlanta, GA: I-20 at I-285 (West)	51	45	52	1.16	645,757
23	San Bernardino, CA: I-10 at I-15	50	44	52	1.16	583,389
24	Nashville, TN: I-40 at I-65 (East)	49	39	53	1.35	575,290
25	Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN: I-35W at I-94	46	39	48	1.23	557,858
26	Oakland, CA: I-880 at I-238	45	40	47	1.19	551,256
27	Washington, D.C.: I-95 at I-495 (North)	49	38	53	1.38	496,757
28	Milwaukee, WI: I-94 at I-894	50	42	53	1.27	478,413
29	Hartford, CT: I-84 at I-91	48	40	51	1.29	447,702
30	Portland, OR: I-5 at I-84	40	35	43	1.23	442,396
31	Oakland, CA: I-80 at I-580/I-880	37	29	42	1.46	441,361
32	Houston, TX: I-45 at I-610 (South)	49	42	53	1.24	440,806
33	Philadelphia, PA: I-76 at I-476	48	42	51	1.20	434,827
34	Los Angeles, CA: I-710 at I-105	47	39	51	1.29	429,511
35	Washington , DC: I-495 at I-270 (East)	46	31	51	1.63	426,297
36	Phoenix, AZ: I-17 at I-10	51	45	54	1.20	415,050
37	Atlanta, GA: I-20 at I-285 (East)	51	45	54	1.20	413,149
38	Seattle, WA: I-5 at I-90	41	35	44	1.25	407,504
39	Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN: I-35E at I-94	47	40	49	1.24	390,015
40	New Castle, DE: I-95 at US-301	50	49	50	1.01	340,212
41	Baltimore, MD: I-95 at I-695 (North)	51	44	53	1.21	309,257
42	Albuquerque, NM: I-25 at I-40	50	46	52	1.13	294,193
43	Stamford, CT: I-95	48	41	51	1.25	292,454
44	Denver, CO: I-25 at I-76	51	44	53	1.21	290,491
45	Manhasset, NY: I-495 at Shelter Rock Road	47	42	49	1.18	285,457
46	Columbus, OH: I-71 at I-70	51	44	53	1.20	282,266
47	Corona, CA: I-15 at SR-91	48	41	51	1.24	279,774
48	Norwalk, CT: I-95	48	43	50	1.16	278,888
49	Tampa , FL: I-4 at I-275	45	36	50	1.37	260,041
50	Boston, MA: I-95 at I-93 (North)	48	40	51	1.26	257,806
51	Charleston, SC: I-26 at I-526	48	41	52	1.24	256,813
52	Camden, NJ: I-76 at I-676	46	41	48	1.17	254,853
53	Providence, RI: I-95 at I-195	45	39	48	1.23	236,857
54	Memphis , TN: I-40 at I-240 (East)	52	46	55	1.19	226,090
55	Baltimore, MD: I-95 at I-395	51	49	52	1.06	223,163
56	Seattle, WA: I-90 at I-405	46	39	50	1.27	222,359
57	Atlanta, GA: I-20 at I-75/I-85	48	40	51	1.27	221,906
58	Montgomery, AL: I-85 at I-65	51	50	52	1.02	205,115
59	Jacksonville, FL: I-10 at I-95	49	44	51	1.18	199,044
60	Baltimore, MD: I-95 at I-695 (South)	53	49	55	1.11	190,334
61	El Paso, TX: I-10 at I-110/US-54	52	47	54	1.16	178,116
62	Atlanta, GA: I-75 at I-85	48	38	51	1.35	176,022
63	Detroit , MI: I-75 at I-696	52	48	54	1.14	174,026
64	Los Angeles, CA: I-110 at I-105	46	38	50	1.29	167,882
65	Parsippany , NJ: I-80 at I-287	53	49	55	1.11	156,611
66	Atlanta, GA: I-75 at I-675	53	48	55	1.15	150,189
67	Chicago, IL: I-290 at I-355	54	52	55	1.06	124,423
68	Elmsford, NY: I-287 at I-87	51	48	52	1.09	123,491
69	Cincinnati, OH: I-75/I-71 at I-275	54	52	55	1.06	109,256
70	Morristown, NJ: I-287 at SR-24	54	50	55	1.10	99,907
71	Los Angeles, CA: SR-91 at SR-55	50	45	52	1.16	99,665
72	Chattanooga, TN: I-75 at I-24	54	52	55	1.06	94,789
73	Cleveland, OH: I-77 at I-480	53	49	55	1.13	90,009
74	Richmond, VA: I-95 at I-64 (North)	53	50	55	1.10	77,440
75	New Orleans, LA: I-10 at I-610 (West)	51	46	54	1.17	77,227
76	Rye, NY: I-95 at I-287	53	52	54	1.04	75,219
77	Columbia, SC: I-26 at I-126	53	49	55	1.13	53,866
78	Tucson, AZ: I-10 at I-19	54	52	55	1.05	43,547
79	Charlotte, NC: I-77 at I-485 (South)	54	52	55	1.05	43,389
80	Los Angeles, CA: I-405 at I-605	52	46	54	1.17	36,913
81	New Castle, DE: I-95 at SR-1	54	53	55	1.03	35,133
82	Salt Lake City, UT: I-15 at I-215 (South)	53	50	55	1.10	30,260
83	Little Rock, AR: I-40 at I-30	54	53	55	1.04	28,974
84	San Rafael, CA: I-580 at US-101	50	47	51	1.09	28,010
85	Chicago, IL: I-80 at I-94	55	55	55	1.01	27,900
86	Phoenix, AZ: I-10 at SR-51/SR-202	53	50	54	1.09	25,995
87	Springfield, NJ: I-78 at SR24	54	53	55	1.04	23,371
88	San Antonio, TX: I-10 at I-410 (North)	54	52	55	1.05	20,876
89	Los Angeles, CA: SR-134 at SR-2	54	51	54	1.07	20,457
90	Fort Lauderdale, FL: I-95 at I-595	54	52	55	1.06	19,287
91	Seattle, WA: I-90 (Floating Bridge)	51	46	53	1.16	19,052
92	Knoxville , TN: I-40 at I-275	55	54	55	1.03	18,539
93	San Diego, CA: I-5 at SR-163	51	49	52	1.06	13,845
94	Colorado Springs, CO: I-25 at W. Bijou Street	55	55	55	1.00	1,231
95	Salt Lake City, UT: I-15 at I-215 (North)	55	55	55	1.00	1,112
96	Birmingham, AL: I-459 at I-59/I-20	55	55	55	1.00	–
97	Mobile, AL: I-10 (east of tunnel)	55	55	55	1.00	–
98	Flagstaff, AZ: I-17 at I-40	55	55	55	1.00	–
99	Charlotte, NC: I-85 at I-485 (West)	55	55	55	1.00	–
100	San Antonio, TX: I-35 at I-410 (South)	55	55	55	1.00