D.C. Traffic Creeps Toward Nation's Worst

Kirby added that the rankings are as much a reflection of population growth as traffic-solving measures. "When you rank areas, those that have been growing the fastest, like ourselves, are going to be higher on the list -- and getting worse."

Maryland Transportation Secretary Robert L. Flanagan said he understands how commuters feel. "I think there is a sense of frustration because we gave up on improving our transportation system for so long, and people got the message that government wasn't prepared to address the problem."

This year's big mover on the national list was Atlanta, which debuted in the "very large" city category at No. 4, just a notch below Washington -- which cut in half the lead of San Francisco, which has the country's second-worst traffic.

Overall, the report offered little solace for congestion-beleaguered Washingtonians.

It found that in 2003, area commuters sat in traffic for 145.5 million hours; tie-ups cost drivers an estimated $2.46 billion, or $577 per commuter; and "rush hour" lasted for fully a third of the day.

The report showed that the Washington area would have the worst congestion in the nation if not for its public transportation systems.

The study is sponsored by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association and the American Public Transportation Association and is based on data compiled by state and federal traffic agencies for 85 cities. Its results are obtained by comparing traffic counts and miles of road lanes to estimate congestion levels.

Mike Lauderdale said the results didn't bother him one bit. Easy enough for him to say -- he's working in Albany, N.Y., after working in the Washington area off and on for the past 30 years.

"I'm within walking distance of where I work, which is not an accident," he said.

Lauderdale, who visits family in the area, said he tells people that "there are two times, as far as traffic" in Washington. "There's rush hour and there's construction."