Traffic Analysis Puts Dallas On The Map As One Of The Most Congested Cities On The Planet

Five stories that have North Texas talking: Dallas traffic costs drivers time and money; Texas Monthly will still cover politics, editor clarifies; check out the horns on this steer; and more.

If Dallas was known for just one thing, it would be the traffic. In fact, an analysis from INRIX published this week ranks Dallas as the 14th most congested city in the world. The transportation study measures and ranks congestion in 1,064 cities across 38 countries. It also breaks down how much time and money sitting in traffic cost drivers in 2016.

American cities accounted for 11 of the top 25 cities worldwide with the worst congestion. That’s where you’ll find Dallas along with Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Cities were ranked by the peak hours the average driver spent in congestion — “the busiest part of the day when the most people are affected,” according to INRIX. Analysts calculated the percentage of time that drivers spent in traffic at different periods of the day and week and on different parts of a city’s network of roads. Dallas drivers spent 59 peak hours in congestion last year — that’s two and a half days spent at a standstill.

And while Dallas drivers were sitting idly in 2016, they were losing money, about $1,509 per person, according to the study. Overall, Dallas lost nearly $3 billion. Analysts figured the economic impact by considering “both the direct costs (those borne by the driver directly through wasted time and fuel) and the indirect costs (those borne indirectly through the increased costs to businesses which are passed on to households through higher prices).” Explore the full report. [INRIX]

• The new editor of Texas Monthly responds to criticism after he was quoted saying that “Texans don’t care about politics.” The Columbia Journalism Review published a piece on Tim Taliaferro and the future of the longtime state magazine saying the new editor plans to take the publication in a new direction — one driven more by lifestyle than politics. Following backlash from Texas journalists and others on Twitter, Taliferro clarified in his own piece that his quote lacked context and that Texas Monthly will continue to cover politics as it always has, but the magazine will expand its topics of coverage “that will make us more interesting to more Texans.” [CJR, Texas Monthly]

• San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor issued a disaster declaration for the city after five tornadoes touched down Sunday night and early Monday. Emergency officials say the storms damaged nearly 120 homes, and five minor injuries were reported, according to Texas Public Radio and The Associated Press. Taylor on Tuesday asked Gov. Greg Abbott for the state’s help and federal assistance could also be sought. Taylor called for volunteers to help with cleanup, after surveying the damage Monday. See pictures of the damage and recovery from Texas Public Radio. [The Associated Press, Texas Public Radio]

• Fans would likely shell out $500,000 or more for Tom Brady’s missing jersey, Houston Police estimate. After the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 in Houston, quarterback Tom Brady returned to the team’s designated locker room at NRG Stadium to find his jersey missing. The case was made dire when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on the Texas Rangers (not the baseball team) to investigate. Brady himself joked saying they’d find it online somewhere. According to The Dallas Morning News, the time is now to sell before the value of Tom Brady’s fifth Super Bowl victory and his winning jersey fades. [The Dallas Morning News]

• This Yorktown steer might have the longest horn spread in the world. Tejas Tip 2 Tip from DeWitt County has 10 feet and two-and-three-quarter inches of space between his two massive horns. There’s talk that Tejas may dethrone Lazy J's Bluegrass, the Texas Longhorn in Kansas that currently holds the Guinness World Record for largest horn spread on a domestic steer, the Victoria Advocate reports. “Tejas Tip 2 Tip's horns didn't grow that long by chance, his owner said. The animal was the product of selective breeding. At the age of 8, Tejas' horns aren't done growing and will continue until the steer is about 15.” You have to see it to believe it. [Victoria Advocate]