Introduction

Our 2018 TNCs and Congestion report provides the first comprehensive analysis of how Transportation Network Companies Uber and Lyft collectively have affected roadway congestion in San Francisco.

Key Findings

The report found that TNCs accounted for approximately 50% of the rise in congestion in San Francisco between 2010 and 2016, as indicated by three congestion measures: vehicle hours of delay, vehicle miles travelled, and average speeds.

Employment and population growth were primarily responsible for the remainder of the worsening congestion.

Major findings of the TNCs & Congestion report show that collectively the ride-hail services accounted for:

51% of the increase in daily vehicle hours of delay between 2010 and 2016;

47% of the increase in vehicle miles travelled during that same time period; and

55% of the average speed decline on roadways during that same time period.

On an absolute basis, TNCs comprise an estimated 25% of total vehicle congestion (as measured by vehicle hours of delay) citywide and 36% of delay in the downtown core.

Consistent with prior findings from the Transportation Authority’s 2017 TNCs Today report, TNCs also caused the greatest increases in congestion in the densest parts of the city—up to 73% in the downtown financial district - and along many of the city’s busiest corridors. TNCs had little impact on congestion in the western and southern San Francisco neighborhoods.

The report also found that changes to street configuration (such as when a traffic lane is converted to a bus-only lane), contributed less than 5% to congestion.

Map

Explore a dynamic map of TNCs and Congestion

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Resources

Final Report: TNCs and Congestion, 2018 (PDF)

Press Release

Data Files

Data set: 2010

Data set: 2016

Data dictionary

Contact

Joe Castiglione, Deputy Director for Technology, Data, and Analysis

Drew Cooper, Senior Transportation Modeler