HOUSTON – High gas prices are already straining wallets across Houston, but the real cost of commuting may be even higher than many drivers realize.
A new study from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute shows the average Houston driver spends about 77 hours a year sitting in traffic. That lost time also translates into wasted gas, about 23 gallons annually, and a total cost of roughly $1,819 per commuter each year.
“It doesn’t take it very long to figure out as this price of fuel goes up, you’re going to feel it in your pocket,” said David Schrank, a senior research scientist with the institute.
The average Houston commute is already about 27 minutes each way, slightly above the national average, according to Census data. Add congestion, and both time and costs climb quickly.
Schrank says even small increases in gas prices can have a big impact. For example, a 20-mile commute in a car that gets 20 miles per gallon uses about 500 gallons of fuel per year. If gas prices rise by just $1 per gallon, that adds $500 annually to commuting costs alone, Schrank explains.
“Every time you hop in your car, you know it’s costing you money,” Schrank said. “When fuel prices go up, that cost is going to climb.”
Alternatives gaining attention
With costs rising, public transportation advocates say more Houstonians are exploring alternatives to driving alone.
“You don’t have to do it every day,” said Robin Holzer, executive director of Link Houston. “Even if you just change one trip a week, that can give you back some slack in your budget.”
Holzer notes commuting to work is only about one out of every five trips people take.
“Whether it’s going to the grocery store, school pickup, or meeting friends, getting out of the car for even one of those trips can help,” she said.
One example is the METRO Route 82, one of the busiest bus routes in the state, Holzer said, runs from West Oaks Mall along Highway 6 into downtown Houston.
For longer commutes, park-and-ride services offer another option, with locations across the region, including Cypress, the Grand Parkway, the Bay Area, and Spring. Riders can travel from designated lots directly into downtown, often using high-occupancy vehicle lanes to bypass traffic.
METRO also offers vanpool programs, where groups of coworkers share a ride in a company-provided vehicle.
“We’re not here to tell you how to get where you need to go,” Holzer said. “What we hear is that Houstonians want options.”
As fuel prices remain high, experts say even minor changes can make a difference whether it’s taking the bus, carpooling, or skipping one drive a week.
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