Winnipeg commute times increase year-over-year, according to new study

If you’ve felt like you’ve spent more time sitting in traffic this year, you’re not alone.

According to new traffic data released by Dutch tech company TomTom, it took Winnipeg drivers an extra 20 seconds to travel 10 kilometres in 2024 than it did the year before, with the total trip averaging out to around 23 minutes and one second.

The data also shows that Winnipeggers lost an average of more than three days, or 74 hours, due to rush-hour traffic.

Winnipeg ranked ninth for traffic congestion in North America and fourth in Canada, only trailing behind Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax. It ranked 129th in the world for travel times.

When it comes to the slowest travel times, the evening rush hour commute topped the charts. From Monday to Friday, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., a 10 kilometre-trip took drivers around 30 minutes. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays around 4 p.m. were the worst days and times to get around the city.

According to the traffic index, Thursday, Jan. 11 was the worst travel day in Winnipeg, with an average time of 29 minutes and 33 seconds. However, on a month-to-month basis, December saw the highest congestion levels at 36 per cent.

The average congestion level in Winnipeg was 26 per cent in 2024, up three per cent from 2023, according to TomTom.

The index, according to the company, is based on data from over 600 million in-car navigation systems and smartphones.

Barranquilla, Colombia was ranked as the slowest city in the world, with drivers spending an average of 34 minutes and 51 seconds to drive 10 km. According to TomTom, Mexico City was the most congested city in the world, with congestion levels at 52 per cent.

- With files from CTV’s Josh Pringle.