Honolulu has the worst traffic in the nation, according to a traffic research company.

Kirkland, Wash.-based INRIX said Los Angeles ranked second in 2011. In 2010, L.A. was No. 1 and Honolulu was No. 2.

Of the 100 most populated cities tracked by INRIX, 70 showed a drop in traffic congestion, the company said in its fifth annual report on traffic. Overall, the congestion dropped 30 percent.

The report found:

–Cities with the biggest drops in congestion had gas prices that were more than the national average at its April 2011 peak ($3.96), including L.A. ($4.25), San Francisco ($4.25) and Honolulu ($4.48).

–Cities where job growth was higher than the national average (1.2%), such as Tampa (3%), Houston (3.2%) and Austin (2.1%), had some of the biggest increases in congestion.

–Cities with moderate employment gains and gas prices at or below the national average ($3.52), including Atlanta ($3.32, 1.2%) and Miami ($3.52, 1.2%), also had the biggest increases in traffic.

Top 10 cities for worst traffic for 2011, based on various criteria, and their worst hour for traffic:

1. Honolulu: Drivers waste 58 hours in traffic; Worst Hour, Tuesday from 5:15 – 5:30 p.m.

2. Los Angeles: Drivers waste 56 hours; Worst Hour, Thursday from 5:45 – 6 p.m.

3. San Francisco: Drivers waste 48 hours; Worst Hour, Thursday from 5:45 – 6 p.m.

4. New York: Drivers waste 57 hours; Worst Hour, Friday from 5:30 – 5:45 p.m.

5. Bridgeport,Conn.: Drivers waste 42 hours; Worst Hour, Friday from 5:30 – 5:45 p.m.

6. Washington, D.C.: Drivers waste 45 hours; Worst Hour, Thursday from 5:45 – 6 p.m.

7. Seattle: Drivers waste 33 hours; Worst Hour, Thursday from 5:30 – 5:45 p.m.

8. Austin: Drivers waste 30 hours; Worst Hour, Thursday from 5:30 – 5:45 p.m.

9. Boston: Drivers waste 35 hours; Worst Hour, Thursday from 5:30 – 5:45 p.m.

10. Chicago: Drivers waste 36 hours; Worst Hour, Thursday from 5:30 – 5:45 p.m.

Top 10 worst traffic corridors of at least three miles in length:

1. Los Angeles: 13-mile stretch of the San Diego Fwy/I-405 NB from I-105/Imperial Hwy interchange through the Getty Center Dr. exit that takes 33 minutes on average, with 20 minutes of delay.

2. New York: 16-mile stretch of the Long Island Expy/I-495 EB from the Maurice Ave. exit to Minneola Ave./Willis Ave. exit that takes 39 minutes on average, with 22 minutes of delay.

3. Los Angeles: 15-mile stretch of the Santa Monica Fwy/I-10 EB from Hwy. 1/Lincoln Blvd. exit to Alameda St. that takes 35 minutes on average, with 20 minutes of delay.

4. New York: 3-mile stretch of I-678 NB (Van Wyck Expy) from Belt Pkwy to Main St. that takes 13 minutes on average, with 10 minutes of delay.

5. Los Angeles: 17.5-mile stretch of I-5 SB (Santa Ana/Golden St Fwys) from E. Caesar Chavez Ave to Valley View Ave. exits that takes 40 minutes on average, with 22 minutes of delay.

6. New York: 10-mile stretch of I-278 WB (Brooklyn Queens/Gowanus Expy) from NY-25A/Northern Blvd. to the NY-27/Prospect Expy Exits that takes 31 minutes on average, with 18 minutes of delay.

7. Los Angeles: 8-mile stretch of I-405 SB (San Diego Fwy) from Nordhoff St. to Mulholland Dr. that takes 22 minutes on average, with 14 minutes of delay.

8. New York: 6-mile stretch of the I-678 SB (Van Wyck Expy) from Horace Harding Expy to Linden Blvd that takes 20 minutes on average, with 13 minutes of delay.

9. Pittsburgh: 3-mile stretch of Penn Lincoln Pkwy/I-376 EB from Lydia St. to the US-19 TK RT/PA-51 exit that takes 13 minutes on average with nine minutes of delay in the morning peak period.

10. San Francisco: 11-mile stretch of Hwy. 4 EB (California Delta Hwy) from Bailey Rd to Somersville Rd. that takes 16 minutes on average, with 11 minutes of delay.

Overall

–Worst Traffic Day: Friday

–Worst Morning Commute: Tuesday

–Worst Evening Commute: Friday

–Worst Hour: Friday 5 – 6 p.m.

–Best Traffic Day: Monday

–Best Morning Commute: Friday

–Best Evening Commute: Monday

–Best Hour: Friday 6 – 7 a.m.

To see more traffic congestion data from INRIX, CLICK HERE.

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