Write Up:

Although traffic jams are not necessarily consistent day to day, recurring congestion tends to occur at regular times. Nonrecurring congestion caused by unexpected traffic crashes or natural disasters also negatively affects traffic flow. When either form of congestion occurs, the time required for a given trip becomes unpredictable. This unreliability is costly for commuters and for truck drivers moving goods, which ultimately results in higher prices for consumers. While the desired trend for both costs is downward, challenges persist in Missouri’s metropolitan regions and major truck freight corridors that continue to threaten this positive outcome. A comprehensive approach to congestion—one that goes beyond the typical solution of adding capacity—is needed. Using smarter technology to help guide motorists is essential. Still, the desired outcome remains to lower congestion costs and to demonstrate that traffic is moving more efficiently.

This report reviews the 2022 to 2025 cost of congestion in the state’s urban areas, as well as along rural segments of I 44 and I 70. The 2024 target was $605 million. The 2025 calculation from the Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS) was $810 million (4 year average). Congestion costs continue to increase in both the Kansas City and St. Louis urban areas, as well as along rural portions of I 70 and I 44. When all measured areas are combined, total congestion costs in 2025 were $980 million—17.9% higher (or $149 million more) than in 2024. Vehicle miles traveled increased slightly by about half a percentage point from 2024 to 2025, according to RITIS data.

Congestion costs are projected to rise in 2026 as fuel prices remain elevated due to geopolitical instability in Iran, continued delays caused by road work on Interstate 70, and increasing vehicle travel as levels rebound toward pre pandemic norms. The new target for 2026 is $729 million (a 10% reduction).

Purpose of the Measure:

This measure tracks the annual cost and impact of traffic congestion to motorists for user delays and vehicle miles traveled on select routes in the St. Louis and Kansas City regions as well as rural sections of Interstates 44 and 70.    

Measurement and Data Collection:

A reporting tool available in the Regional Integrated Transportation Information System looks at user delay costs. This data, in combination with industry standard costs for passenger cars and trucks, reflects the overall costs of congestion. RITIS also includes historic data so trend lines can be tracked and evaluated. The unit cost per passenger car is $33.45 per hour and is obtained from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unit cost per truck is $90.89 obtained from the American Transportation Research Institute, which specializes in tracking freight mobility and provides the best source of data related to freight costs. For previous reporting, the department used data provided by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which annually produces the Urban Mobility Report. The target for this measure is updated annually in July and is established by projecting a 10% improvement over a four-year average.