Duffy Asks States to Identify Worst Traffic Bottlenecks

The average urban auto commuter lost 63 hours stuck in traffic in 2024, according to Federal Highway Administration data. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg News)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is asking governors and mayors to identify their worst traffic bottlenecks in a new initiative to obtain federal help to ease congestion.

Duffy said the Trump administration is “tackling congestion head-on to eliminate endless traffic jams and ensure you spend less sitting wasting away in gridlock.”

He announced a “Freedom to Drive” initiative for states to collaborate with the Department of Transportation that included focusing on:

• Maximizing roadway capacities
• Fast-tracking projects that lower congestion choke points
• Leveraging American technology and private-sector partnerships in road and highway infrastructure ventures

This joint initiative also is being spearheaded by the Federal Highway Administration.

“We want local solutions that serve all road users, instead of federal bureaucrats favoring one mode of travel over another,” FHWA Administrator Sean McMaster noted.

“The Trump administration is calling on every governor to join us in clearing the bottlenecks and cutting waste to save Americans both time and money.

“Congestion relief is a huge priority," said @USDOT Deputy Secretary Bradbury.

Through the FHWA's new "Freedom to Drive" initiative, @SecDuffy is calling on governors nationwide to identify their state's worst traffic choke points and outline concrete plans to fix them.

Full… — Federal Highway Admn (@USDOTFHWA) April 24, 2026

FHWA has launched a website called Freedom to Drive with facts about congestion:

• The average urban auto commuter lost 63 hours stuck in traffic in 2024, costing $1,480 per commuter — amounting to $269 billion in lost productivity and fuel costs.
• Vehicle travel has increased by 10% in the past decade while delays have more than doubled to 22% during the same time.
• Over the next 25 years, vehicle travel will grow 16% and freight shipments by truck are expected to soar by nearly 50%.

Duffy’s identical two-page letter to governors and mayors asked them to outline two to five of their “worst congestion nightmares.” Thoroughfares identified could be local, state or national roads that are “choking” economies.

Then, the officials are to outline future actions to combat the congestion that expand and increase efficiency.

“This includes building new roadway capacity or applying operational strategies and technologies to maximize existing roadway capacity. You may also need to recover roadway capacity from other purposes to support driving,” Duffy advised.

He reaffirmed DOT’s support, asking state and local officials to submit the lists to their area FHWA division offices.

“FHWA will support your progress, provide access to additional tools and resources, and recognize meaningful achievements,” Duffy stated.

Top Trucking Bottlenecks

Meanwhile, the American Transportation Research Institute in February issued its annual report on states with the worst bottlenecks on freight corridors. It found 28 states have at least one of the top 100 trucking bottlenecks.

ATRI analyzes unique datasets such as truck GPS data at nationally freight-significant locations as well as a speed-volume algorithm quantifying how traffic congestion impacts truck-based freight.

The states with the highest number of top 100 bottlenecks are:

• Texas: 12
• Georgia: 9
• California and Tennessee: 8
• Illinois: 6

“Congestion delays inflicted on truckers are the equivalent of 436,000 drivers sitting idle for an entire year,” said Rebecca Brewster, ATRI president and chief operating officer. “While these congestion metrics are getting worse, the good news is that states do not need to accept the status quo. This data gives policymakers a road map to reduce choke points, lower emissions and drive economic growth.”