The good news is that the economy is on the mend.  The bad news is that traffic congestion is increasing again.

INRIX, a traffic and navigation services firm, has released its 3rd Annual INRIX National Traffic Scorecard, which says traffic congestion and commuting times in 2009 were back on the rise as the economy emerged from the recession. The 150-page report is available by clicking here.

According to INRIX, gridlock across the U.S. bottomed out in March and April 2009, but 58 of the 100 largest U.S. cities have since experienced increases in traffic congestion.

The report also identified Philadelphia as the 10^th most congested city in America.

“Although the improving economy is certainly a positive development, the report reminds us that the nation’s highway system carries far more traffic than it was designed to carry,” said PHIA Managing Director Jason Wagner.  “In Pennsylvania and nationally, we do not have adequate funding for maintaining the existing highway system, let alone expanding its capacity to improve safety and relieve congestion.  The only way our economy can reach its full potential is with a modern, efficient transportation system.”