Anderson Injury Lawyers | June 12, 2025 | Personal Injury
Fort Worth’s commuters have it rough. A 2024 Forbes study ranked Fort Worth 10th in the nation among the 25 largest U.S. cities based on average travel times to work.
Using Census and other data, the study found that Fort Worth’s one-way commute is about 26.8 minutes on average. In a city of roughly 500,000 workers, even a few extra minutes per trip can add up to significant delays for thousands of people.
This post breaks down the key factors behind Fort Worth’s notorious commutes using the latest data and local reports.
Road Infrastructure and Construction
Part of the congestion problem is Fort Worth’s roadway capacity. The city is served by several major freeways (I‑35W, I‑820, I‑30, and I‑20, among others), but many of those highways were built decades ago and now carry far more traffic than originally intended.
Texas DOT and local planners have launched multiple construction projects to add lanes and improve flow. For instance, the Interstate 30 Clear Lanes Project (western Fort Worth) will expand I‑30 at a cost of roughly $267 million.
Similarly, TxDOT’s I-820 East Loop project, which began in 2018, rebuilt sections of I‑820, adding lanes, access roads, and new connectors.
Some of these road projects can create short-term pain — construction zones often reduce the number of usable lanes or create detours, further extending commutes. And with tighter lanes and unexpected merges, these areas can also see a spike in car accidents, adding even more delays to an already slow drive.
Limited Public Transit and Alternatives
Fort Worth’s options beyond cars are limited. The city’s transit system, Trinity Metro, offers buses and two regional rail lines, but its overall reach is small compared to the metro area. The Forbes study noted Fort Worth’s low transit access score (22/100).
In practical terms, this means that only a minority of commuters can realistically use public transportation. In Fort Worth proper, very few neighborhoods have high-frequency rail or express bus service. Most workers live far from rail stations, and suburban job centers are poorly served by transit. As a result, almost everyone who can drive does so.
Only about 2% of households in the Fort Worth metro area lack a car, which is far below national averages for large metros. In addition, Fort Worth’s walkability score (35/100) is low, so biking or walking for the whole commute can be difficult for most people.
With so many drivers on the road and limited alternatives, accidents become more common, especially during rush hour. This adds yet another layer of unpredictability to the daily commute.
Urban Growth, Density, and Sprawl
Fort Worth’s rapid growth is another key factor. The North Texas region (including Fort Worth and Dallas) is booming: Planners project that the metro population will nearly double from eight million to over 15 million by 2050.
Much of that growth will push outward into new suburbs and exurbs. Large housing developments and business parks have cropped up on the edge of Fort Worth and in nearby counties, which means many workers now live farther from their jobs.
In parts of north Fort Worth — ZIP codes like 76052 and 76131 near the Alliance corridor — commuters spend more than half an hour driving each way, well above the citywide average.
A Long Road Ahead for Fort Worth Drivers
Several factors converge to make Fort Worth, Texas, one of the toughest places in America for daily drives. Congested highways can force drivers to spend extra time behind the wheel. The city’s rapid population boom and spread-out neighborhoods mean many commuters face longer trips. And with few viable transit alternatives, most residents rely on personal vehicles.
Major infrastructure projects are in motion, but they come with big price tags and long timelines. It will likely take a mixture of continued road construction, smarter land-use planning, and new transit services for Fort Worth’s commuters to see substantially shorter trips.
If you have questions or have been in an accident in Fort Worth, contact Anderson Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Texas
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and need legal help, contact our car accident lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
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