Where are the region's traffic chokepoints?

WASHINGTON - As if drivers need to be reminded, traffic in the area is downright awful at times. Some might even call it legendary. So does your commute take you through some of the worst traffic chokepoints in the area?

The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board put together a study which highlights the stretches that were the most congested in 2008:

1. Southbound Interstate 395 (5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) from 4th St., SW to U.S. Route 1*

2. Westbound 11th St. Bridge (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) from Interstate 295 to Southeast Freeway

3. Northbound I-395 (4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) from 11th St., SE to Pennsylvania Ave, SE

4. Outer Loop I-495 (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) from New Hampshire Ave. to U.S. 29*.

The following are tied for fifth:

• Inner Loop I-495 (5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) Georgetown Pike to George Washington Parkway;

• Northbound I-395 (4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) from U.S. Route 1 to 12th St, SE;

• Eastbound I-66 HOV (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) from Va. 243 to I-495*;

• Eastbound I-66 (6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) from Va. 267 to Va. 693;

• Inner Loop I-495 (5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) from Md. 187 to I-270;

• Northbound I-95 (7 a.m. to 8 a.m.) from Va. 644 to I-495.

The survey, for the first time, pinpointed corridors that saw sustained congestion over long distances. Interstate 66 drivers won't be surprised to find that Eastbound I-66 from the Va. 234 Bypass to the Capital Beltway ranks No. 1 during the morning commute. It has an estimated delay of 21 minutes. The longest delay in the evening -- 16 minutes -- occurs on the Inner Loop from Va. Route 7 to the I-270 spur.

To figure out how congested areas roads get, the survey measures the density of cars per mile per lane. A density of 40 or higher indicates drivers are going 30 mph to 55 mph. A density of 62 shows severe congestion, with cars crawling at 10 mph to 30 mph.

Testing out how long it would really take to travel the 20.4 miles along I-66 from Va. 234 to the Beltway, WTOP's Kristi King hopped into morning traffic. It took her 1 hour 32 minutes to make the drive.

The planning board's study is completed every three years using 80,000 aerial traffic pictures along 300 freeway miles. The study does not analyze smaller roadways.

"This is the first time since we began monitoring traffic congestion that Vehicle Miles Traveled has dropped since the previous survey," says Ron Kirby, director of Transportation Planning at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

The drop in congestion since 2005 is being attributed to higher gas prices and the economic downturn.

The complete survey will be presented and discussed at a Transportation Planning Board Meeting Wednesday.

(Copyright 2009 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)