AT the top of the list of most congested cities in the US, Los Angeles is not the place to be on Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Angelenos will face the worst traffic in the country, with trips in and out of the region projected to take 36 percent longer than average, according to a report from Inrix, a Washington technology company. The report also states that LA’s delays will exceed the national average by 10 percent.
“Los Angeles is simply the worst place to be on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving,” said traffic analyst Jim Bak.
The Inrix report also found that the worst congestion on Nov. 26 from downtown to Los Angeles International Airport on the southbound 110 freeway will be between 7 and 8 am, with an average delay of 15 minutes.
Trips to the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, the second busiest mall in the country, will be 71 percent longer on Black Friday than on an average Friday. The worst times to drive to the mall will be between 11 am and 2 pm.
LA’s increasing traffic problems are a result of the city’s growing economy and low gasoline prices, Bak pointed out. More people are on the roads traveling and shopping, as employment is also slowly rising. Plus, the streets will be packed not just with Angelenos heading to the airport, but with folks visiting and touring the city.
“Where there’s economic growth in our cities, we’re seeing a huge return of traffic congestion,” Bak said.
Other major cities trailing close behind in congestion rankings include Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle, where drivers will also see a roughly one-third increase in travel times.
Bak recommends leaving before 2pm or 6pm, to avoid rush hour peak traffic between 3 and 5pm on Wednesday.
“However, if accidents or a major storm hit, all bets are off,” he said. Though a storm is unlikely in LA, more cars on the road means a higher chance of accidents.
“Better yet, wait to leave until Thanksgiving morning,” he joked.
(With reports from LA Times)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek November 26-28, 2014 Sec. A pg.1)
