"Dallas-Fort Worth traffic congestion is fifth-worst in the country and worst in Texas," according to reports from the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
 

Souce: Dr Tim Lomax, TTI Presentation

Longtime residents of the Metroplex have witnessed traffic congestion increase dramatically since 1982 when congestion in Houston was three times higher. By 2005, DFW had risen above even Houston, to the "fifth-worst in the country." While the problem was worsening here fast, it was also rising across the state's other large metropolitan areas.
 
The Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University keeps track of this information and conducts studies to address these types of problem. Dr Tim Lomax from the Institute presented this information to a joint meeting of the Dallas Regional Mobility Council and the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition. (PDF version of Dr Lomax's presentation below.)
 
More than presenting the extent of congestion in North Texas and information from across the state, Mr Lomax revealed the frustration and cost of congestion. In the DFW area, the average driver during the peak period of congestion wastes 58 hours per year, at a cost of $1050. Across the state that amounts to 360 million motorist hours, 250 million gallons of gas, and a price tag of $6.7 million.
 
Metroplex drivers found roads uncongested 86% of the time in 1982. By 2005 it had dropped to only 34%. Conversely, the extremely congested period had risen from 3% to 28%. For area drivers, at least 57% of the time they drive they will encounter heavy congestion or greater, wasting 152 million hours and 11 million gallons of gas. Time and fuel both considered, that is an annual cost of $2.75 billion. The average trip takes 35% longer than those free-flow periods. Checking the clock face, we experience congested traffic 7.6 hours each day.
 

 
Congestion is expensive, it degrades our quality of life in time lost and the cleanness of our air, it makes planning area trips unpredictable, and its waste of energy resources contributes to our dependence on foreign governments in both energy purchases and foreign capitalization, governments that are oftentimes hostile to our interests.
 
We're not stuck in this conundrum. We can manage our way forward but it will take leadership (which we do have) and money (which we are working to acquire) and planning (where we are doing better).
 
The first problem is recognizing the challenge, the subject of this post. I'll address some of the next challenges in future posts.