Maricopans among earliest commutes in nation

A new study of U.S. Census data yesterday found Peoria ranked the city with the fourth-earliest commute in the nation with 41% leaving for work before 7 a.m. But the study only looked at large cities over 100,000 population.

In Maricopa, it’s nearly twice as bad.

About 71% of Maricopans spent more time on their commutes to work than the average Arizonan, according to census data.

In 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau conducted the American Community Survey that covered a wide range of topics affecting Americans today. That included data detailing commuting habits.

The data showed about half of Maricopa commuters leave for work before 7 a.m. Around 30% leave before 6 a.m. and 15% leave before 5 a.m.

How long were those commutes?

The average travel time to work in 2022 was about 35 minutes, which is about the amount of time it would take a driver to travel from city limits to Tempe when traffic is light.

However, nearly 3 in 4 Maricopans reported commute times taking 30 minutes or longer.

Versus state, nation

Your average Arizonan had shorter commute times.

Just over 1 in 3 commuters in the state said they leave for work before 7 a.m., and the average travel time was about 25 minutes.

The majority said they spent less than 25 minutes traveling to work.

Those numbers hover around the national average, where 32% of commuters leave for work before 7 a.m. and the average travel time is 26 minutes.

Worse than normal?

However, with construction projects underway, Maricopans report seeing longer than normal commutes than the 2022 numbers.

Residents in the private Maricopa Traffic Rants group said they’ve seen their commute times steadily increase in recent months, especially since the months-long John Wayne Parkway improvements began in October. That led to more road restrictions and bumper-to-bumper traffic on the city’s main thoroughfare.

“The problem isn’t the [freeway] traffic, it’s getting out of Maricopa,” write Elizabeth Ann Reinking. “Spending nearly an hour to get out of Maricopa is ridiculous.”

Maricopa Meadows resident Lori Zelones said she saw her travel times double in recent months.

“What used to be a 25-minute commute to Ahwatukee and back is now over an hour each way,” Zelones wrote. “I love my house and Maricopa, but this is actually affecting my well-being.”

Others reported similar experiences, with some saying a daily morning commute to Phoenix may take up to two hours.

What’s being done to help?

At least four projects are planned for State Route 347, including the current widening project between Smith-Enke Road and city limits to prepare for future highway expansion.

Others include the Riggs Road interchange, pavement rehabilitation and, eventually, widening SR 347 to Interstate 10.

However, with a $1 billion deficit in the state budget, the governor’s office plans to ax $419 million in future transportation projects.

Among those at risk? The $25 million interchange project planned for Riggs Road on SR 347. The interchange would eliminate the traffic light and, hopefully, reduce the number of crashes on the road.

It’s a move local legislators like State Rep. Teresa Martinez plan to contest.

Yesterday, she delivered more than 200 emails to Gov. Katie Hobbs from Maricopans protesting the state’s intent to cut funding for the highway.

“I will, in no way support a budget that takes away money from 1-10 or 347,” she told InMaricopa last week. “If I have to go through each agency and find cuts to make up for the money, I’ll do it.”