METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

NYC has longest commute time via car and transit, study says

At just 26 minutes, San Diego was named as the U.S. city with the shortest average commute time.

April 25, 2019
NYC has longest commute time via car and transit, study says

A new study from Geotab depicts varying travel patterns across America and identify the U.S. cities with the longest and shortest commutes.

Geotab

3 min to read


A new study from Geotab depicts varying travel patterns across America and identify the U.S. cities with the longest and shortest commutes.

Geotab

New York City has the longest commute time via car and public transit, according to a new study from Geotab. The study analyzed commuter sprawl across 20 major cities in the U.S.

The results depict varying travel patterns across America and identify the U.S. cities with the longest and shortest commutes. The interactive piece also ranks the least and most reachable city centers.

Ad Loading...

Utilizing the 2012-2016 CTPP tabulation of the American Community Survey, Geotab examined data from more than 14 million commuters, calculating mean commute times from census tract areas across the U.S. travelling into 20 of the biggest cities in America. The company then used this data to create detailed maps visualizing these complex travel patterns, highlighting the true commuter boundaries of each of these cities.

“These maps provide us with an alternative way of thinking about cities. A city doesn’t necessarily stop at the official city boundaries — instead, they continue to sprawl much further thanks to the commuters that travel in and out of these areas for work throughout each and every single week,” said Maria Sotra, VP of Marketing at Geotab.

According to the results of Geotab’s Time to Commute study, the U.S. city with the longest average commute was found to be New York City, with those commuting into the city spending 43 minutes travelling on average. Commuters in NYC also face the longest commute by transit (53 minutes) and the city was identified as America’s least reachable city, with only 4% of commuters able to travel into the city in half an hour or less. Additionally, only 28% of NYC commuters can access the city within 30 minutes by car, while just 6% of public transit users can access the city within 30 minutes.

At just 26 minutes, San Diego was named as the U.S. city with the shortest average commute time.The coastal Californian city also has the shortest commute by car (26 minutes) and was deemed as the most reachable, with 72% of commuters able to access the city within 30 minutes. While 77% of San Diego commuters travelling by car can travel to the city within half an hour, only 17% of public transit users can commute into the city within half an hour. The most reachable city for public transit users is Minneapolis, which 31% of commuters can travel into within 30 minutes.

“This research also highlights the need for ongoing investment in transportation infrastructure across the country,” added Sotra. “The stark contrast between how many cities are easily reachable by car versus those that are easily reachable by public transit suggests that there is still some way to go in ensuring that these cities can be accessed in a reasonable amount of time regardless of your mode of transport.”

Ad Loading...






More Management

Management•October 21, 2026

Building Stronger Leaders, More Resilient Transit Teams

Dr. Carol Parker Walsh discusses leadership development, employee retention, workplace culture, and preparing transit’s workforce for AI and automation.

Read More →
ABC Companies President and CEO Roman Cornell
Bus•October 21, 2026

Roman Cornell on ABC Companies’ Evolution and the Future of Passenger Transportation

The company’s CEO discusses carrying forward a third-generation family legacy, ABC’s continued evolution in passenger transportation, support for increasingly complex fleets, and how technology and continued investment could help operators improve uptime.

Read More →
METRO Magazine graphic with a dark blue geometric background and the headline “CATS Launches West Charlotte Microtransit Zone, Expands Services” in bold white lettering.
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 19, 2026

CATS Launches West Charlotte Microtransit Zone, Expands Transit Services

The new microtransit zone connects residents to key destinations as Charlotte Area Transit System rolls out the first phase of its 2055 Transit System Plan.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
VIA Primo BRT bus riders
Bus•by Alex Roman•October 19, 2026

VIA Bus Ridership Grows 10.1% Through August 2026

San Antonio's VIA Metropolitan Transit reported the highest bus ridership growth among major Texas transit systems. Federal Transit Administration data ranked it second among the nation's 50 largest transit systems.

Read More →
New Standard Helps Transit Agencies Address Climate Risks
Security and Safety•by Alex Roman•October 19, 2026

CSA Group Releases Climate Resilience Standard for Transit, Passenger Rail

Developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada, CSA D700 guides assessing climate-related risks and planning adaptation measures for transit and passenger rail systems.

Read More →
Unifying Transit Data With AI Tools with ETA's John Maglio
Technology•by Alex Roman•October 19, 2026

ETA CEO John Maglio on Transit Technology, Innovation, and Building Agency Trust

ETA founder and CEO John Maglio explores the evolution of transit technology, the importance of reliable systems, and how stronger partnerships can help agencies improve operations and the passenger experience.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
METRO Magazine graphic showing passengers boarding a COTA bus at a downtown bus stop, with the headline “COTA Launches First Customer Experience Action Plan.”
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 16, 2026

COTA Launches First Customer Experience Action Plan to Improve Transit Service

The new plan outlines improvements to service reliability, accessibility, communication, and the overall rider experience across Central Ohio's transit system.

Read More →
Crowd waiting for LA Metro bus
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 16, 2026

LA Metro September Ridership Climbs 3.9%, Led by Rail Growth

The agency recorded more than 27.2 million boardings, with rail ridership increasing 12.4% year over year and the D Line posting the largest gains.

Read More →
Taking the Guesswork Out of Fleet Replacement
Management•by Alex Roman•October 14, 2026

Utilimarc Launches SmartReplace to Optimize Fleet Replacement Decisions

AI-powered SmartReplace helps fleets prioritize vehicle replacements, model budget scenarios, and build more defensible long-term strategies.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A group of 2026 APTA Award recipients pose onstage with medals and trophies in front of a large APTA Awards backdrop during the awards ceremony.
Management•by Staff and News Reports•October 12, 2026

APTA Honors 2026 Award Winners, Hall of Fame Inductees at TRANSform & EXPO

Innovations in autonomous and zero-emission transportation, standout transit systems, and industry leadership took center stage among this year's honorees.

Read More →