Toronto, January 28, 2026: Drivers in Canada’s largest city spent the equivalent of nearly four full days stuck in traffic last year, according to a new study by navigation company TomTom.
Releasing its annual Traffic Index on Monday, TomTom ranked Toronto as the second most congested city in Canada, behind only Vancouver. The study found that Toronto motorists lost a total of 100 hours during rush hour in 2025, amounting to four days and four hours. This marked an increase of three hours and 50 minutes compared to 2024.
Despite the rise, experts noted a marginal improvement in Toronto’s standing compared to earlier years. In 2023, the city was ranked the worst in North America for traffic congestion.
“At least compared to our peers, we seem to be dropping in this ranking,” said Matti Siemiatycki, director of the University of Toronto’s Infrastructure Institute, in an interview with CTV News Toronto. However, he cautioned that congestion remains a serious concern, adding that losing 100 hours annually has a significant impact on commuters’ quality of life and the broader economy.
TomTom said its index analysed congestion levels, travel times and vehicle speeds worldwide, using anonymised data collected from drivers in metropolitan and central city areas over the year.
The data showed that commuting home takes longer than travelling to work. During the morning rush hour, it takes around 29 minutes to cover 10 kilometres in Toronto, while the same distance takes about 34 minutes in the evening. On average, driving 10 kilometres in central Toronto takes 26 minutes and 40 seconds, which is one minute and eight seconds longer than in 2024.
During peak congestion, vehicles move at an average speed of 18.9 kilometres per hour, while highway speeds average 53.6 kilometres per hour.
By comparison, Vancouver drivers take an average of 28 minutes and 34 seconds to travel 10 kilometres, with rush-hour speeds of about 18.3 kilometres per hour. Siemiatycki attributed much of Vancouver’s congestion to geographic constraints, noting that bridges act as major bottlenecks and the absence of tolls does little to manage demand.
Across North America, Toronto ranked ninth overall, dropping two positions from 2024. TomTom attributed this to slight local improvements in congestion alongside worsening traffic conditions in several U.S. and Mexican cities. Mexico City topped the continental list, followed by Guadalajara and Los Angeles.
Explaining the causes of congestion in Toronto, York University’s director of the Accessible Transportation and Technology Lab, Dr. Mahtot Gebresselassie, pointed to a growing number of vehicles and limited road capacity.
“When the number of vehicles exceeds what the roads can handle, congestion is inevitable,” he said, adding that infrastructure constraints and ongoing road construction worsen the situation. Severe weather events, including heavy snowfall, also contribute to traffic delays.
A City of Toronto congestion management report released in April highlighted that the city’s 5,600 kilometres of roadway have not been significantly expanded in decades. The report identified construction as the most aggravating factor, noting that new daily fees have been introduced for occupying road space during infrastructure work.
Although Toronto’s population declined slightly between July 2024 and July 2025, increased return-to-office mandates have added pressure to the road network. Tens of thousands of Ontario Public Service and private-sector employees have been required to resume full-time, in-office work.
“As driving remains the dominant mode of transportation in North America, increased commuting naturally leads to more congestion,” Gebresselassie said.
Experts argue that improving public transit is essential to easing gridlock. Siemiatycki said transit must offer a faster and more reliable alternative to driving, warning that slow services undermine efforts to reduce congestion.
He also suggested that Toronto consider introducing a congestion charge similar to New York City’s. Manhattan implemented a pricing system earlier this year, which has reportedly reduced traffic volumes by eight to 10 per cent.
“If it can work in New York, it can work anywhere,” Siemiatycki said.
