Philadelphians are spending less time commuting

Philadelphians spent less time commuting last year but still logged some of the longest back-and-forth trips among big U.S. cities, per a new analysis from CommercialCafe .

Why it matters: Shorter commutes are linked to better mental health and are better for the environment .

Driving the news: Philadelphians spent an average of 31.1 minutes commuting one-way in 2023, a decline of 0.4 minutes from the previous year, per the analysis.

• Those seconds add up, saving travelers 3.3 hours on average last year, compared to 2022.

Zoom out: Philly commutes last year were also below pre-pandemic levels, which reached 34.3 minutes one-way in 2019.

Yes, but: Philly has the fourth longest one-way commute among the 50 biggest U.S. cities.

• New York City topped the list for longest commutes with 40.1 minutes, followed by Chicago (33) and Los Angeles (31.4).
• The national average was 26.8 minutes.

How it works: CommercialCafe used average commute data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

• Commute times include all modes of transportation.

Between the lines: Driving rates in Philly have crept up beyond pre-pandemic levels.

• But SEPTA ridership has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels on bus, subway or Regional Rail .

Meanwhile, hybrid work arrangements are still reshaping commutes despite remote work declining in the Philly region in recent years.

What we're watching: Whether other big Philly employers follow the city and Comcast in cutting back or eliminating work-from-home policies.