QCOSTARICA — The cantons with the best public roads do not necessarily have the smoothest traffic in their communities. Having good roads is a helpful condition, but it is not enough to avoid traffic jams, according to the 2024 National Competitiveness Index (Índice de Competitividad Nacional 2024).
This is demonstrated by analyzing the cases of cantons such as Belén (Heredia), Tibás (San José), Osa (Puntarenas), Flores (Heredia), San Pablo (Heredia), Curridabat (San José), and Dota (San José), which are among those with the highest percentage of road networks in good condition, but have road connectivity problems.
The case of Belén could be the most representative of this situation. On the one hand, 82% of Belén’s streets are in good condition; however, it is the canton with the third highest average road delay, at 5.9 minutes per 100 meters traveled, according to data collected with Waze. It also ranks among those with the highest percentage of road segments that reported at least one traffic jam (77%) in a given year.
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Another similar case is that of Tibás, where 86% of its roads are in good condition, but its residents spend three minutes traveling every 100 meters.
In the worst-case scenario, which is the canton of Orotina, drivers lose up to seven minutes traveling every 100 meters.
For this reason, government workers living in Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, and some areas of San José will be able to telecommute until the end of the year to alleviate congestion, as recently announced by Planning Minister, Marta Esquivel.
Urban mobility experts, public transportation companies, and the government agree on the need to solve the country’s traffic jam problems.
To achieve this, they point out that telecommuting and public transportation are essential, among other measures.
In the latter case, a recent study by the regulator of public services, the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (Aresep), indicates that at least 82 bus routes were abandoned.
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“Businesses must guarantee quality service, but the State must guarantee conditions for its profitable operation. This implies improving infrastructure, eliminating illegal competition, and considering strategic subsidies, not only for fares, but to ensure the sustainability of public transportation as a whole. The lack of dedicated lanes, traffic jams, and poor road conditions all affect bus operations,” said Bernal Rodríguez, president of the Cámara Nacional de Buses (National Chamber of Buses).
Meanwhile, Emma Grün, Regional Leader of Cities and Urban Design at Gensler Latin America, noted that increasing road infrastructure may temporarily alleviate congestion, but it is not a sustainable solution.
“Various studies show that as roads expand, more people prefer to use their cars, often with only one occupant, encouraged by the perception that the trip will be faster and more comfortable. It is essential to better connect public transportation options with major housing centers, offer more mobility alternatives, and promote mixed-use projects,” said the specialist.
Best and Worst Roads by Canton
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The canton of Santa Bárbara (Heredia) has the best and worst roads in the entire country, while Puntarenas is singled out for having the worst roads.
Each canton was assigned a grade that reflects the condition of the roads in its city. Not all cantons are included.
(The information was compiled by the Comptroller General’s Office, which annually evaluates municipal services, according to the 2024 Competitiveness Report prepared by the Council for the Promotion of Competitiveness.)
Top ten cantons with good road network
- Santa Bárbara
- Heredia Centro
- La Unión
- Escazú
- Tibás
- San Rafael
- Alajuela Centro
- Flores
- Matina
- Moravia
On the other end of the ranking, the cantons with the worst roads are Puntarenas center and Pococí (Limón).
How to survive traffic congestion?
In addition to the state the roads network, the increase in the vehicular fleet that has more than tripled in the last two decades, means traffic congestion won’t disappear any time soon, so it’s best to be patient and maintain a positive attitude behind the wheel to maintain your peace of mind.
Elvis Solano, a clinical psychologist at the School of Psychology at the National University (UNA), offers several tips.
- Accept reality. The country’s reality dictates that you may regularly encounter a lot of traffic congestion, and that this circumstance is beyond your control. Therefore, it’s best not to get angry and leave early.
- Car pooling. Make your commute a pleasant affair. Several people with the same destination can share a car, which reduces congestion and has psychosocial implications.
- Manage your breathing. Periodically close your eyes (while sitting in traffic), inhale, exhale, and let the air flow through your lungs. It’s about being more in touch with yourself through breathing.
- Music. Listening to music you enjoy or a podcast on some interesting topic can help you pass the time.
- Enjoyable Activities. After finishing a long day at work and dealing with traffic, do something that gives you satisfaction, such as going for a walk, taking your pet for a walk.
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