Even on a good day, Simmons’ commute and the commutes of several hundred more residents of this city are among the worst in the United States. Roughly 21 percent of Los Banos workers have at a least a 90-minute ride to and from work, the highest percentage in the nation, according to a McClatchy analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data for cities with at least 5,000 employed workers.
The ride has gotten progressively worse in recent years as Bay Area transplants poured into Los Banos and other Central Valley “exurbs” in search of homes they could afford to buy, residents said. With the economy booming and the population rapidly increasing in the region, the Valley now has some of the longest commutes not just in California, but in the country.
In Lathrop, roughly one-third of workers endure one-way commutes of at least one hour. That’s also the situation in Tracy. The average commute time for people in Mountain House is an estimated 53.5 minutes, the longest average commute in California.
Elk Grove and Galt residents battle longer average commutes than those living in Los Angeles. The drive to and from work for those living in three Modesto suburbs – Salida, Riverbank and Oakdale – hovers around 30 minutes each way most days.
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