Comparing peak travel times to non-peak times, TRIP estimated it costs $2,639 each year for someone to drive across the Lehigh Valley. Take our POLL.
In a report that will surprise no one, the most expensive section of road to drive in the Lehigh Valley is Route 22 from Interstate 78 in Upper Macungie Township to Route 33 in Bethlehem Township, Pa., according to a nonprofit group that studies traffic issues.
TRIP, which calls itself a national transportation research group, says it costs the average driver $2,639 per year -- including 142 hours in unproductive time and 61 additional gallons of gas -- to navigate this jammed section of road.
Overall, drivers pay $410 million each year in traffic on the region's roads, the group says.
The group ranked the most expensive congested corridors in the Lehigh Valley and Reading area in terms of lost time and fuel, according to a news release this morning.
In something else that will surprise few Lehigh Valley motorists, the group says congestion in the most expensive corridor would be relieved by widening Route 22 to six lanes and upgrading interchanges to current standards.
Widening Route 22 has been on and off state transportation plans and it is likely to be back on if Gov. Tom Corbett goes forward with a plan to add to gas surcharges to pay for a massive reconstruction of the state's roads and bridges.
Other sections of road that made the regional top 10 were Cedar Crest Boulevard from Route 22 to Chestnut Street in Lehigh County, Route 191 from Route 22 to Route 946 in Northampton County and Mauch Chunk Road from Schadt Avenue to Route 22 in Lehigh County.
As local economies improve, traffic congestion is expected to get even worse, the group predicts.
"A high level of traffic congestion affects individuals by reducing the areas that can be reached within a reasonable time period, limiting opportunities for employment, education, shopping and services, recreational, and social opportunities," the report said.
Read the entire report. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation provided the group with peak and nonpeak travel times on the roads in the study so a comparison could be done, the group said in the report.The top 10 in the Lehigh Valley and Reading area
1. Route 22 from I-78 to Route 33 in the Lehigh Valley.
• This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 143 hours, 61 additional gallons of gas, and $2,639 annually or $51 weekly.
• Traffic congestion could be relieved on this corridor by widening to six lanes and bringing interchanges up to current design standards.
2. US 422 from Morwood Avenue to Woodside Avenue in Reading.
• This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 45 hours, 19 additional gallons of gas, and $829 annually or $16 weekly.
• Traffic congestion could be relieved on this corridor by upgrading signal coordination, reconstructing two key intersections and construction of a portion of a parallel connector street.
3. US 222 from Dries Road to the Lehigh County Line in Reading.
• This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 42 hours, 18 additional gallons of gas, and $767 annually or $15 weekly.
• Traffic congestion could be relieved in this corridor by reconstructing intersections at PA 73 and Long Lane, installing two-lane roundabouts at Genesis Drive and PA 662, and widening portions of the route.
4. Cedar Crest Boulevard from Route 22 to Chestnut Street in the Lehigh Valley.
• This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 40 hours, 17 additional gallons of gas, and $736 annually or $14 weekly.
• Traffic congestion could be relieved on this corridor with lane additions, intersection improvements, emergency signal preemption, and improved driver information.
5. State Route 12 from I-376 Elizabeth Avenue to SR 622 in Reading.
• This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 21 hours, nine additional gallons of gas, and $384 annually or seven dollars weekly.
• Traffic congestion could be relieved on this corridor by adding left turn lanes, possibly three-laning portions of the route, an improving or coordinating signalization.
6. US 422 from Monocacy Creek Road to Pottstown Bypass in Reading.
• This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 18 hours, seven additional gallons of gas, and $322 annually or six dollars weekly.
• Traffic congestion could be relieved on this corridor through intersection improvements at Old Airport Road and improved signalization throughout the corridor.
7. State Hill Road from SR 625 to SR 422 in Reading.
• This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 17 hours, seven additional gallons of gas, and $307 annually or six dollars weekly.
• Traffic congestion on this corridor could be improved by reconfiguring the interchange with US 422/SR 10 and upgrading signal timing.
8. State Hill Road from SR 3422 to SR 3055 in Reading.
• This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 17 hours, seven additional gallons of gas, and $307 annually or six dollars weekly.
• Traffic congestion on this corridor could be improved by standardizing the route to a five-lane cross section and improving signal coordination.
9. Route 191 from Route 22 to Route 946 in the Lehigh Valley.
• This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 17 hours, seven additional gallons of gas, and $307 annually or six dollars weekly.
• Traffic congestion on this corridor could be eased by improving intersections, traffic signalization, access management, and driver information.
10. Mauch Chunk Road from Schadt Avenue to Route 22 in the Lehigh Valley.
• This congested corridor costs the average rush hour driver 15 hours, six additional gallons of gas, and $276 annually or five dollars weekly.
• Traffic congestion on this corridor could be eased by improving intersections, traffic signalization, access management and driver information.