U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Program
Fact #361: February 28, 2005
Fuel Wasted by Congestion
The Texas Transportation Institute studies congestion in 85 urban areas throughout the United States each year. According to their latest study, the amount of fuel wasted due to congestion grew to 74 gallons per traveler in 2002, a total of 5.7 billion gallons of fuel.
Fuel Wasted by Congestion, 2002 
Very Large Area = population over 3 million
Large Area = population over 1 million and less than 3 million
Medium Area = population over ½ million and less than 1 million
Small Area = population less than ½ million
Supporting Information
Wasted Fuel Per Traveler (Gallons per Traveler)
| |
Very Large Area |
Large Area |
Medium Area |
Small Area |
| 1982 |
39 |
16 |
9 |
7 |
| 1992 |
87 |
47 |
24 |
14 |
| 2002 |
97 |
63 |
42 |
20 |
|
Source: Texas Transportation Institute, The 2004 Urban Mobility Report, September 2004. |
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