Getting around town is more expensive, more frustrating here than elsewhere
Original Source: The Leader
How locals feel about Houston traffic and rising vehicle ownership costs
A recent study by Compare the Market AU finds that Houston ranks #3 in U.S. cities with the most traffic complaints, just after Los Angeles and New York City. More than 39% of Houstonians surveyed reported being frustrated with Houston traffic, compared to 25.4% in Dallas, 21.4% in Chicago, 11.4% in Fort Worth, and only 11.1% in San Antonio. Even in the international arena, based on the number of social media complaints, Houston places as the 5th worst commuter city after L.A. (#1); Sydney, Australia; Vancouver, Canada; and NYC.
This surely comes as no surprise to most Houstonians as, no matter where one lives in the city, there seem to always be errands to run that are either 20 or 45 minutes away depending on the time of day, and the frustration of being stuck in traffic is as familiar to us as the buzzing of cicadas in summer or the scent of fire pits and brisket permeating the air on those cool fall nights.
Long Road to Everywhere
With its amazing food scene, its dynamic economy, its world class museums, theater and music venues, and its unparalleled resilience in the face of adversity, Houston is in many ways a lovely place to live. But its traffic and its continuous reliance on cars as a primary mode of transportation are to some as off-putting as the relentless summer heat. Or perhaps more so. After all, you can hide from the heat in air-conditioned spaces, but even if you are that rare Houstonian who uses public transit, you are still likely to get stuck on the road somewhere and wait helplessly for longer than you’ll find acceptable. Last year, geolocation company tomtom released a study that found that the average Houston driver spends about 46 hours in traffic over the course of a year. That is almost two whole days (and nights)!
The good news is that Heights residents are, in some small ways, protected from the tremendous inconvenience that is Houston traffic. The area is dense enough to be walkable. Commerce is thriving and most errands don’t require venturing into the city. In nice weather, strolling to the neighbor’s house or the neighborhood cafe is easy enough. But many Heights residents have to drive out of the neighborhood to go to work, and their commutes are predictably aggravating.
Heights resident Morgan Belling, who works in the Medical Center, told The Leader that her commute is about 35 minutes going to work, but about 50-55 minutes coming home.
“I’m somewhat frustrated by traffic. I think it’s a fairly common complaint living in Houston,” she said.
“I AM frustrated by traffic,” Heights resident Vince Blasco echoed Belling’s sentiment. His commute is about 17 minutes to work and 28 minutes home, and the area where he experiences the most congestion is between TC Jester and Hardy.
Paula Hawkins works in the Heights but lives in the East End. Her commute, taking her through downtown to get to the Heights takes about 30 minutes. She told The Leader traffic “seems to get crazier every day.”
The Price We Pay For Mobility Around H-Town
To make matters worse, car ownership, which is almost a necessity for most of the city’s population, is more expensive here than the national average and insurance costs are on the rise, too.
A recent study by iSeeCars found that due to what some term the “pandemic hangover,” a mix of limited production tied to plant shutdowns and increasing demand, the price of used cars all over the nation increased on average 33% across all car ages over the past few years.
“Plant shutdowns and limited new car production during the pandemic is still playing havoc with the used car market,” said iSeeCars’ executive analyst Karl Brauer. “With 28 percent fewer 1-to-3-year-old used cars today compared to 2019, buyers have to shop 6-year-old – or older – cars to find a comparably priced vehicle.”
The study’s findings for Houston, specifically, show that:
- In 2019 a 3-year-oldHyundai Accent cost $10,881, but in 2023 a comparable budget of $10,284 can only afford an older 10-year-old Hyundai Accent.
- The average cost of a 3-year-old car in Houston was $24,398 in 2019, but it’s now $33,339 in 2023 – a change of 36.6%.
- Compared to the price of a 3-year-old car in 2019, a comparable budget of $25,134 will only buy a 6-year-old car today.
While cars everywhere have become more expensive, Houston, where a vehicle is a necessity, not a luxury, is a city where car ownership costs more than in other places in several ways and for several reasons. Houstonians are fond of big vehicles, which certainly adds to acquisition or loan costs, and the price for car insurance is typically higher in an area with lots of traffic and, as a result, an increased likelihood of getting into an accident. It explains, at least in part, why car ownership here tends to be more expensive overall than in other places across the nation.
Heights residents The Leader talked to expressed relief over vehicles that were paid off, and they all reported that their car insurance had gone up anywhere from 20% to 28% recently. Belling said that during a recent conversation with her insurance company, a representative told her that there’s a trend recently of auto insurance rates rising significantly.
Consider this data recently released by third-party online bill payment website doxo:
- Per month, the average Houston household spends $710 on car ownership, 5.3% higher than the U.S. monthly average of $674.
- Per month, the average Houston household spends $156 on Auto Insurance, 24.6% lower than the U.S. monthly average of $207.
- Per month, the average Houston household spends $554 on Auto Loans, 18.6% higher than the U.S. monthly average of $467.
Perhaps if Houston’s city roads were safer, the driving experience smoother, and public transit more efficient and accessible, Houstonians could go for more affordable options.