It’s the Weekend, So Why Am I Stuck in Traffic?
Does the weekend bring any respite to LA traffic?
We took daily speed data from 18 segments of Los Angeles freeways in 2017 to look at weekday versus weekend trends.
What we found? Yes, you’re not imagining it: Rush hour doesn’t take a break on the weekends. There are some stretches where the peak 4 pm – 7 pm gridlock barely budges on the weekend. On one freeway, traffic during the weekday evening rush hour actually moves faster than on the weekend.
Of course, there are some freeways where it’s smooth sailing on the weekend. But don’t just assume that Saturday means you’ll never be bumper-to-bumper.
Least Improved Freeway Speed on the Weekends:
Northbound on the 5, between the 10 and the 405 is 4.14% slower on the weekend between 4pm – 7pm.
Weekday average speed 4 pm-7 pm: 54.51 mph → Weekend average speed: 52.25 mph.
Most Improved Freeway Speed on the Weekends:
Going the opposite direction, it’s al alternate universe. Southbound on the 5, between the 10 and the 405 is 131.82% faster during the 4 pm – 7 pm period.
Weekday average speed: 19.43 mph → Weekend average speed: 45.04 mph
We ranked all 18 freeway segments, from those with the smallest differential between weekday and weekend, to the largest.
| Freeway | Segment | Direction | Percent Change in Speed* |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-5 | 5 w 10 and 405 N | North | -4.15% |
| I-5 | 5 w 57 and 71 W | West | 1.33% |
| I-405 | 405 w 10 and 110 N | North | 6.69% |
| I-110 | Pasadena w 101 S | South | 6.75% |
| I-5 | Santa Clarita 1 10 S | South | 7.24% |
| I-10 | SM with 5 W | West | 8.15% |
| I-405 | 405 w 10 and 118 S | South | 18.20% |
| I-110 | Pasadena w 101 N | North | 20.04% |
| I-110 | 101 w 105 N | North | 23.58% |
| SR-101 | 27 w 5 S | South | 25.03% |
| I-5 | Santa Clarita w 10 N | North | 39.44% |
| I-10 | SM with 5 E | East | 54.53% |
| SR-101 | 27 w 5 N | North | 62.35% |
| I-110 | 101 w 105 S | South | 69.19% |
| I-405 | 405 w 10 and 110 S | South | 76.29% |
| I-5 | 5 w 57 and 71 E | East | 83.67% |
| I-405 | 405 w 10 and 118 N | North | 120.80% |
| I-5 | 5 w 10 and 405 S | South | 131.82% |
*Percent change in average speed from weekdays to weekends 4 pm-7 pm.
How we did it: We analyzed average speeds on the freeways throughout 2017 by hour of the day and day of the week. We then calculated the average speeds during the peak of the evening rush hour (4 pm-7 pm) and compared weekdays against weekends.
Learn more about how Crosstown compiles its traffic data here.
Is there a freeway you want to know about?
Email us at askus@xtown.la
