Transportation in Washington, DC
Commute patterns, travel times, and transportation modes — 2023 ACS Data
Commute Overview
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Mean Commute
21 min
-9% vs national
Drive Alone
28.1%
-64% vs national
Public Transit
22.3%
+2377% vs national
Work From Home
29.4%
+217% vs national
Carpool
4.3%
Walk / Bike
13.3%
combined
How Washington's Commute Compares
Source: Census ACS (2023)How People Get to Work
Source: Census ACS (2023)Commute Mode Breakdown
Source: Census ACS (2023)Traffic Fatalities
Source: NHTSA FARS (2023)Fatalities
44
2023
6-Year Avg
35
fatalities/yr
Pedestrian
14
Cyclist
3
Nighttime
30
dark conditions
| Year | Crashes | Fatalities | Alcohol | Pedestrian | Cyclist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 39 | 44 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| 2022 | 28 | 32 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| 2021 | 40 | 41 | 0 | 18 | 3 |
| 2020 | 34 | 36 | 10 | 10 | 1 |
| 2019 | 22 | 23 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
| 2018 | 30 | 31 | 5 | 11 | 3 |
Data from NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Includes only crashes involving at least one fatality.
The average commute in Washington, DC is 21 minutes, which is 8.5% below the national average of 23 minutes. 28.1% of workers drive alone, compared to the national average of 78.7%. 29.4% work from home, which is above the DC state average of 29.4%. Public transit is used by 22.3% of commuters, compared to the national average of 0.9%. 4.3% of workers carpool. 10.0% walk to work. 3.3% commute by bicycle. In 2023, there were 44 traffic fatalities from 39 fatal crashes. 14 were pedestrians.