Study: South Florida Traffic Gets Worse, Even as the Economy Slumps

A study by the Texas Transportation Institute found that South Floridians spent an average of 39 hours in rush-hour traffic jams in 2009.

Florida Trend notes that the 2008 figure was 35 hours and just 10 hours in 1982. A typical 30-minute off-peak trip took a little more than 37 minutes at rush hour.

The study estimated that congestion cost the typical commuter in South Florida about $892 in wasted fuel and time -- figures that are likely higher today, thanks to rising gas prices.

Meantime, deficit-ridden TriRail -- which connects Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties -- continues to run half empty.

If it's any consolation, commuters waste more time in traffic in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. But South Florida rush-hour trips take longer than in Dallas, Atlanta and Phoenix.