I-880 Stretch in Union City Among Worst Commutes in Nation

It’s not breaking news that traffic in the congested Bay Area is horrible — third worst in the nation, to be exact — but a recent study also lists the small stretch of I-880 running through Union City among the country’s worst commutes.

Though only 5.3 miles in length, the afternoon commute along the portion of I-880 northbound in Union City between Decoto Road and Tennyson Road ranks sixth worst in the Bay Area and 81st worst in the nation, according to the INRIX, a traffic monitoring firm.

Travel time through the stretch is about five minutes when traffic is clear. However, the drive time doubles during weekday afternoons with an average speed of 31 mph, INRIX reports.

And if you thought traffic has been getting worse, you’re right. In 2010, the strip ranked 143rd on the INRIX National Traffic Scorecard.

The Contra Costa Times highlighted some of the March study’s findings in a report last week.

Other highlights from the region from the INRIX study:

• The most congested commute in the Bay Area is in the afternoon along eastbound Highway 4 from Bailey Road to Somersville Road between Pittsburg and Antioch. The section ranks 10th worst nationwide. 
• The second worst Bay Area commute is also in Contra Costa County along Highway 4 westbound from Hillcrest Avenue. It ranks 26th worst in the nation.
• Westbound on Interest 580 in Berkeley from Cypress Street to University Avenue ranks third worst in the Bay Area and 57th in the nation.
• U.S. 101 Fair Oaks Avenue to De La Cruz Boulevard in Sunnyvale ranks 68th in the nation.
• Eastbound I-80 in San Francisco from U.S. 101 to Treasure Island ranks 70th in the nation.
• Northbound I-680 in Fremont from Scott Creek Road to Andrade Road ranks 82nd.
• Traffic in the San Jose region ranks 13th worst nationwide.

How bad is your afternoon commute? What route do you take, and what tricks do you use to avoid traffic?

Tell us in the comments section below.