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    Jammed up

    Houston stuck on new ranking of world's most traffic-congested cities

    John Egan
    Jun 11, 2019 | 6:00 am
    Houston aerial skyline with traffic on the highway
    Houston's traffic woes have us ranked among the world's most congested cities.
    Art Wager/Getty Images

    This might make your commuting headaches feel even worse: A global index ranks Houston just outside of the world’s 200 most traffic-congested cities and among the country’s 20 most traffic-congested cities.

    TomTom, a provider of navigation technology, measured traffic congestion for 2018 in 403 cities across 56 countries. The new TomTom Traffic Index puts Houston at No. 204 globally and No. 18 nationally for traffic congestion, as well as No. 2 in Texas.

    In Houston, drivers spent an average of 23 percent extra travel time stuck in traffic last year, according to TomTom. The worst day in 2018 for traffic congestion in Houston: October 31 (44 percent). The best: Christmas Day (1 percent). Even summer, based on recent news, offers little reprieve.

    Traffic problems aren’t unique to Houston, of course. Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and San Antonio also are grappling with increased traffic as the state’s biggest metro areas continue to experience surges in population.

    On the TomTom index, Austin, where people spent an extra 25 percent of travel time stuck in traffic, ranked No. 179 in the world, No. 14 in the U.S., and No. 1 in Texas.

    Dallas-Fort Worth drove into the No. 299 spot globally, No. 35 spot nationally, and No. 3 in Texas for traffic congestion in 2018 (18 percent), TomTom says.

    San Antonio fared best among major Texas metro areas, placing 321st in the world, 43rd in the U.S., and No. 4 in Texas (17 percent), according to TomTom.

    The TomTom Traffic Index is based on anonymized GPS data collected from navigation devices, in-dash systems, and smartphones.

    “Globally, traffic congestion is rising. And that’s both good and bad news. It’s good because it indicates a strong global economy, but the flip side is drivers wasting time sitting in traffic, not to mention the huge environmental impact,” Ralf-Peter Schaefer, TomTom’s vice president of traffic information, says in a release.

    According to TomTom, the most traffic-congested U.S. city in 2018 was Los Angeles, It ranked 24th globally (an average 41 percent extra travel time stuck in traffic). New York City was second in the U.S., followed by San Francisco; San Jose, California; and Seattle.

    Topping the global list was Mumbai, India, where drivers spent an average 65 percent extra travel time stuck in traffic. It was followed by Bogota, Colombia (63 percent); Lima, Peru (58 percent); New Delhi, India (58 percent); and Moscow (56 percent).

    Earlier this year, the INRIX 2018 Global Traffic Scorecard, an analysis of traffic congestion and mobility in more than 200 global cities, put Houston in 77th place globally, 13th place nationally, and first place in Texas. It’s based on data about time wasted in traffic and severity of traffic congestion.

    The INRIX scorecard put Austin as the 84th most traffic-congested city in the world, 14th in the U.S., and second in Texas. Dallas ranked 122nd globally, 21st nationally, and third in Texas. San Antonio, meanwhile, came in at 163rd in the world, 60th in the U.S., and fourth in Texas.

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    Houston's best summer party

    White Linen Night in the Heights rolls out new VIP section for 2025

    Eric Sandler
    May 19, 2025 | 5:33 pm
    White Linen Night in the Heights
    Photo courtesy of White Linen Night in the Heights
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    One of Houston’s favorite summer parties aspires to be even better in 2025. White Linen Night aims to build on the success of the 2024 event with faster admission, more amenities, and a dedicated VIP section.

    Held annually on the first Saturday in August — this year that’s Saturday, August 2 — White Linen Night came to Houston from New Orleans. Although it now takes place throughout the neighborhood, its roots have always been on 19th Street, where the nonprofit 19th Street Merchants Association established the event after Hurricane Katrina. As part of the evening, the street is closed off to vehicular traffic which allows people to walk freely among their friends and neighbors. The overwhelming majority of attendees dress in the spirit of the event’s name by wearing white (it’s also cooling in the summer heat).

    Last year, for the first time ever, the merchants association charged those attending the 19th Street party a $10 admission fee. The money paid for better security, a deep clean both before and after the event, and festive Christmas decorations for the association’s members. Given its success, the fee is back at the same $10 price for 2025 ($15 after July 31).

    “We learned that people are still incredibly eager to support our local businesses and artisans, even when there is a small fee to attend,” Coryne Rich, secretary of the 19th Street Merchants Association, tells CultureMap. “It was inspiring to see the community come out in droves, especially during what is traditionally a slower time of year. Charging for entry also gave us the opportunity to enhance the event in meaningful ways, adding value for both attendees and merchants.”

    For 2025, the association is installing a dedicated wifi network to improve the entry process. More notably, attendees have a new VIP ticket option. Priced at $60, it comes with access to a VIP section with seating, dedicated restrooms, a cooling station, and two bars.

    “We added a VIP section this year to expand on the offerings of White Linen Night and to provide a more exclusive experience for those looking to enjoy the event in a different way,” Rich explains. “[It will be] a perfect space for guests to relax and immerse themselves in the atmosphere while also supporting the local businesses in the Heights.”

    Other elements of the evening remained unchanged. The street’s merchants will open their doors to the community. Area restaurants will offer food and drink specials. Local musicians will perform throughout the evening.

    To be clear, White Linen Night events held in other parts of the Heights, such as on White Oak, are not connected to the 19th Street Merchants Association. They may or may not charge fees of their own.

    “While organizing White Linen Night takes a lot of work, the reward of seeing people in their white attire, enjoying an evening of community celebration, and supporting small businesses is always the best part,” Rich adds. “It’s a time for all of us to celebrate the unique culture of the Heights, and we can’t wait to experience it all over again this year.”

    For tickets and more information, visit the White Linen Night on 19th Street website at wlnon19th.com.

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