Oregon Public Broadcasting

Here's a silver lining to the bad economy. Chances are you're spending less time sitting in traffic.

According to a new report, the typical Portland commuter spent an hour less per year idling on the road in 2007 than the year before. Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

Traffic congestion in Seattle, Portland and Eugene declined slightly for the second year in a row according to a new national report out Wedsnesday.

The annual analysis by the Texas Transportation Institute says high gas prices and the poor economy put the brakes on worsening traffic.

Institute researchers figure the reprieve is temporary until the economy rebounds.

Washington DOT traffic operations director Ted Trepanier agrees, but with caveats.

Ted Trepanier: “We will see congestion grow slightly again. I think we will see especially travel grow. But it is not going to grow at the rate it did before and it will not be in the same proportions to population as it was before.”

Trepanier explains he's noticing favorable long term changes from increased transit usage, telecommuting, higher density development, and people moving closer to work.

Seattle fell from 14th place to 19th on the list of most congested urban areas in the country. Portland is also moving in the right direction, slipping four places to 34th worst congestion.

Online:

Texas Transportation Institute Urban Mobility Report