MnDOT Alerts Traffic Congestion Growing In Metro Area

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation says that traffic congestion is on the rise in the Twin Cities.

According to MnDOT, the amount of congested freeways grew to 21.1 percent in 2014, compared to 19.9 percent in 2013.

While officials say that public transit options have contributed to a slower congestion increase lately, the average commuter spends about 34 hours per year stuck in congested traffic.

"The recent congestion figures confirm that congestion strategies we have in place are helping," MnDOT's Brian Kary, with the Metro District Freeway Operations, said.

MnDOT estimates that without new transportation investments, the amount of time metro commuters spend stuck in traffic annually could grow to 45 hours per year within a decade.