State of the Commute

It's no surprise the majority of Georgia commuters drive alone to and from their jobs each workday. And all of those cars and trucks traveling during peak times create traffic and air pollution in many areas across the state.

But the numbers show that more of us are choosing alternatives to driving alone on the trip to work, which helps alleviate gridlock and smog and makes Georgia a better place to live, work and play.

Download this summary to learn more about the state of metro Atlanta's commute.

Commuting in Georgia

		78% of Georgians drive alone to and from work.1
		Average commute time: 27 minutes one way. One in five Georgians has a one-way commute longer than 45 minutes.2
		The average Georgia commuter spends the equivalent of 27 8-hour workdays just getting to and from work.3
Sources: 1, 2, 3 U.S. Census Bureau 2010 American Community Survey.

Did You Know?

		THe majority of Georgians live in one county and work in another.4
		In many areas across Georgia, as much as half of smog-forming emissions come from the tailpipes of cars and trucks.5
Sources: 4  U.S. Census Bureau 2010 American Community Survey 5  Based on mobile source emissions data from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division

Commuting in Metro Atlanta

		Each day, 400,000 metro Atlanta commuters (roughly one in five) do something other than drive alone.6
		The number of teleworkers has grown in recent years. 600,000 Atlantans telework at least occasionally, up 20% since 2007.7
		The average one-way commute distance in Atlanta is 17.5 miles.8
		Traffic congestion costs each Atlanta commuter $1,046 a year in lost time and productivity. Overall, traffic costs the region's employers $2.9 billion a year.9
		Atlanta commuters lose some 60 hours a year due to traffic congestion and delays.10
Sources: 6, 7, 8  2010 Center for Transportation and the Environment survey of 4,000 metro Atlanta commuters conducted on behalf of the Georgia Department of Transportation.  Read the topline summary here.  9, 10  2010 Urban Mobility Study for Atlanta, Texas Transportation Institute

What is being done to improve commuting in Georgia?

There are a number of demand management strategies led by the Georgia Department of Transportation to improve commuting.  A few examples include:

• Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology like 511 and Georgia-NaviGAtor
• Highway Emergency Response Operator (HERO) units that help clear disabled vehicles from roadways
• The programs and services offered through The Clean Air Campaign to employers, commuters and schools to encourage carpooling, vanpooling, riding transit, teleworking, bicycling and walking