ATLANTA–(ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE) – In Atlanta, griping about gridlock isn ‘t just a pastime — it’ s practically a sport.
As clogged interstates turn everyday commutes into endurance tests, trading traffic horror stories has become as much a part of commuting life as talking about the Braves or Falcons on the field. An accident or stalled car blocking a lane can back up traffic for miles.
Those stories will likely never end. Setting aside billions of dollars more to fix the congestion likely won ‘t solve the problem.
Michael Hunter, director of the Georgia Transportation Institute at Georgia Tech, told Atlanta Business Chronicle that the issue ultimately comes down to how much taxpayers are willing to spend on highway projects or support alternative solutions such as expanding MARTA.
“We have a situation where our demand exceeds the capacity , ” Hunter said. “There is no traffic management in the world that’ s going to make it not congested. ”
The traffic congestion reflects metro Atlanta ‘ s success in attracting jobs and people. Hunter said that while the congestion can ‘t be fixed, it can be made better for commuters.
Hybrid, remote work eases the daily grind
The Covid-19 pandemic briefly gave Atlantans a break from the daily commuting grind as commuters stayed home. But congestion began to return once the pandemic ebbed and companies started bringing employees back to work.
Still, hybrid and remote work schedules have lingered past the pandemic, shortening average commute times.
The share of teleworkers rose from 43% in 2019 to 60% in 2025, according to a survey of 6,000 people that Georgia Commute Options conducted for ARC and the Georgia Department of Transportation. The nonprofit funded by GDOT also found that the number full-time remote workers increased from 6% to 20% over the same period.
Before the pandemic, roads were easier to navigate once rush hour ended. That is no longer the case because more people work from home and move around during the workday .
“There is now more consistent traffic throughout the day even though the peak periods are not as bad as they were before the pandemic, ” said Sheryl Merritt, an ARC spokeswoman.
Commute times shortened from 39.3 minutes in 2019 to 34.6 minutes in 2025, and the average distance remained at about 19 miles, the survey results showed. Most commuters still drive alone, and fewer use alternative transportation than before the pandemic.
Some choose longer commutes in exchange for lower housing prices
Fulton County residents had both the shortest average commute distance and time of any county in the region — at 9.76 miles and 21.55 minutes. Bartow County commuters had the longest on both measures, at 24.29 miles and 34.65 minutes.
The differences reflect how living closer to work shortens the trip. But they also reveal the necessity or desire to live farther out for more affordable housing.
To ease congestion, developers are increasingly focused on creating communities that blend jobs, housing and retail — a mix that reduces traffic.
“We are doing a study for the Atlanta Beltline itself, to look at how to put more jobs in the same space as the housing, so that you increase housing without increasing traffic, ” said Patrick Chopson, co-founder of architectural firm Cove.
Cash incentives aim to ease commutes
Another strategy is encouraging more employers and workers to take advantage of Georgia Commute Options, a program that offers cash incentives to commuters who carpool, use transit or choose other clean commuting options. Federal tax benefits are available for employers that provide financial incentives to workers who use cleaner commuting options.
At Cove, Chopson said employees receive a monthly credit for not using a car to get to the office.
“People who don ‘t have a car in Georgia are saving between $800 to I think as much as $1,000 per month, so they can afford to live in a nicer apartment and all that, ” he said.