PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Anyone driving in the Valley nowadays, especially in morning or afternoon rush hours, is likely to see traffic on several freeways.

Phoenix-area drivers spent an average of 76 hours behind the wheel at slower congested speeds in 2024, according to Texas A&M’s Urban Mobility Report .

The Valley ranks 17th in the country for traffic congestion, up by a couple of hours from 2023 and significantly higher than the 60 hours recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Schrank, a Texas A&M researcher who worked on the study, said population growth is the main factor driving increased time spent in cars compared to five years ago. More people are moving to Arizona and other western and southern states, he said.

Real-time Phoenix-area traffic map

Schrank also ci

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