---
title: Downtown Traffic Congestion Post-COVID
description: See how post-COVID traffic congestion is impacting the top 10 U.S. cities and see how you can mitigate downtown congestion while driving economic growth.
image: https://learn.streetlightdata.com/hubfs/eBooks%20and%20Research/Congestion%20Report/Social%20Asset%20%5BCONGESTION%20REPORT%5D.png
---

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CONGESTION REPORT

# Downtown Congestion Post-COVID: Traffic Trends in the Top U.S. Cities

##### It’s little wonder that COVID-19 spurred a drop in traffic congestion. Amid business closures and a shift to remote work for many, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and Vehicle Hours of Delay (VHD) plummeted. Nowhere was this shift more apparent than in once bustling downtown business districts.

##### Now VMT and VHD have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels outside of downtown, but within these urban cores, they still have a ways to go before we can truly say they are “back to normal.”

##### This leaves a window of opportunity for planners to act. After all, while returning traffic could mean growing economic activity in urban cores, it could also spell bad news for emissions and quality of life.

##### Download the report to see what planners can do to diagnose congestion and ensure downtowns thrive. The report covers:

- How congestion Metrics like VHD and VMT are trending in the top 10 U.S. downtowns
- Deep-dive analyses showing how commute distance influences congestion
- Data-informed strategies to mitigate traffic congestion while driving economic growth

### Download the Report

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![Downturn Congestion Post-COVID](https://learn.streetlightdata.com/hubfs/eBooks%20and%20Research/Congestion%20Report/Ebook%20Image.png)

##### “Despite empty offices, rush hour congestion is back, with key streets leading in and out of our downtowns clogged again. For this report, we explored the sources of congestion, changes in rush hour traffic, and what city leaders need to know to make sure downtowns are thriving.”

![](https://learn.streetlightdata.com/hubfs/Headshots/Martin%20Morzynski.png)

**Martin Morzynski**

@MartinOnTraffic

## Measure congestion in your city with reliable, on-demand analytics

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Measure traffic congestion with on-demand Metrics like VMT, VHD, and more.

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See where downtown traffic originates to understand the sources of congestion.

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Get historical data for before-and-after analyses to measure the impact of COVID-era projects on congestion.

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### Downtown Congestion Post-COVID: Traffic Trends in the Top U.S. Cities

[Download the REPORT](https://learn.streetlightdata.com/downtown-traffic-congestion-post-covid#form-section)