Exploding Suburbs Propel Austin Among Worst Commutes

Census data collected between 2005 and 2009 shows massive population growth in the single-family havens surrounding Austin, particularly Hutto, Manor, Bee Cave, Kyle and Leander. The data also indicated that seventy-two percent of Austin workers drove to their jobs alone.

Given those two factors, it isn't surprising that Austin has been ranked as the eighth worst commute in the United States. Austinites also had among the highest expenditures in the nation on automobiles and gasoline. Think fatter highways are the answer? The only cities with commute times worse than Austin were highway-Meccas like Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and Los Angeles.