Gridlocked Beltway drivers, take solace: It’s not any worse than two years ago.
More than half of commuters surveyed by the Greater Washington Board of Trade say their daily car and bike rides take the same amount of time as two years ago.
In comparison, 31 percent say their daily treks take longer, while 12 percent enjoy shorter trips.
But few are doing back flips over the findings.
“That’s like saying, ‘The hell you’re living in isn’t any hotter,'” said Arlington’s Jill Sanders, walking past heavy traffic in Northwest Wednesday morning.
It was the first time the board quizzed commuters as part of its twice-annual consumer confidence survey. The question applied only to driving and biking trips, not public transit.
Consumer confidence
» Nearly half believe new health care laws will make their coverage more expensive.
» Sixty-seven percent say the stimulus package is having a positive effect.
» More than 80 percent worry local budget problems will hurt the area’s economic competitiveness.
» Fourteen percent expect to be promoted in the next six months.
» Six percent expect to quit their jobs in the next six months.
Source: Greater Washington Board of Trade
Roughly twice as many District and Northern Virginia adults said their commutes had become worse rather than better. It was a three-to-one margin for Marylanders. But surveys reliant on people gauging their driving experiences are hardly foolproof, said Ben Ross, president of the Action Committee for Transit.
“When you talk to people, they like to complain,” he said. “It’s easier to remember lots of traffic jams.”
He said better measurements include vehicle counts and total miles traveled, which have declined nationwide with more drivers opting to keep their cars parked.
Nearly 45 percent of Washingtonians want transportation projects to move ahead at a quicker pace, and 34 percent said they should be delayed, the survey found.
A profusion of state and local transportation initiatives have been put on hold in the wake of massive budget shortfalls across the region.
