I recently had the opportunity to travel to New York City, a place known for its big dreams, lights, and traffic. Back in Dallas, traffic isn’t much better. Last year, drivers in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex spent an average of 56 hours a year stuck in traffic—12 hours more than the year before, according to NBC5 DFW. This significant increase has pushed us into the top 15 most congested cities in the country.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott pointed out in 2015 that road congestion costs drivers in Austin and Dallas over $1,000 a year, and in Houston, it’s nearly $1,500. Taking inflation into account, that $1,500 from 2015 is about $1,988 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
When I visited New York City, it felt like a chaotic scene straight out of a movie—honking cars speeding only to slam on the brakes, drivers with road rage, and pedestrians barely avoiding being hit even while using crosswalks. One memorable moment was when our agreed $75 ride from LaGuardia Airport to Times Square ended up costing over $100 due to tolls and extra fees. The guest services at our hotel informed us that taxis generally charge a flat rate of $65-$75 for the trip from Queens to Manhattan. However, some tourists are charged over $300 for the same journey because private drivers set their own rates and can add additional charges without regulation.
This experience showed me just how problematic traffic and transportation can be, and made me realize that we need to address these issues in Dallas before they develop into even bigger problems on their own. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), the largest public transportation system in North Texas, could lose up to $6 billion in funding over the next 20 years, according to The Dallas Morning News.
In Dallas, County Commissioners manage and oversee road projects and bridge construction, but major planning and construction are often handled at the state level. Despite these efforts, we need more action to keep up with growing traffic issues.
City and county officials are responsible for funding public transportation, deciding how much money goes to buses and trains from local taxes or fees, and managing local transit agencies.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Dallas officials are thinking about cutting DART’s funding too. DART CEO Nadine Lee has warned that losing a lot of sales-tax money from Dallas could badly affect DART’s services. To cover rising costs and keep services running, DART plans to raise fare prices in 2025.
We can’t just keep building more roads and bridges and hope the problem will fix itself. Our representatives need to focus on giving more attention to investing more in public transportation which can help reduce the number of cars on the road. Also, creating more options to make it easier and safe for people to use public transport instead of driving everywhere. Here’s how we can take action!
1. Speak Up
We need our representatives to listen to our concerns and find real solutions. Use USA.gov to contact your federal, state, and local officials and make sure they know what we need.
2. Try to Use Public Transportation More
Give buses and trains a try. Not only does this help reduce traffic, but it also supports better transit options and funding for public transportation.
I found New York’s subway system to be incredibly fun and easy to use, allowing me to travel all around the city for a reasonable price. It reminded me of taking the train to the state fair when I was younger—a fun, affordable way to get around with friends. Instead of spending money on Uber rides, especially with surge pricing which can sometimes double the cost of rides during busy times or events, using public transit could to be a great option I hadn’t fully considered before.
3. Share Your Experiences
Discuss your traffic frustrations and potential solutions with friends and neighbors. The more we all understand the problem, the more pressure there will be for meaningful change.
My trip to New York showed me just how important it is to tackle our traffic problems before they get worse. In Dallas, we're already seeing more travel time and car accidents. If we want to avoid the kind of traffic chaos I saw in New York, we need to make smart choices now. Let’s come together to improve traffic and make our daily commutes a bit less stressful.
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