Let’s be honest: in Scottsdale, complaining about the roads is practically a civic pastime. Right up there with debating roundabouts and grumbling about cyclists. But here’s a plot twist: Scottsdale just ranked as the fourth-best city in the country to drive in, according to financial website WalletHub. Yes, you read that correctly. Fourth. In the entire nation.
Before you dismiss this as some kind of statistical sorcery, let’s talk about why Scottsdale actually earned this distinction. The city ranked first (as in number one) in traffic and infrastructure among 100 major U.S. cities. That’s not about potholes; that’s about the bigger picture of what makes driving pleasant (or at least tolerable).
So what exactly went into this top ranking? The traffic and infrastructure category includes annual hours spent in congestion, number of days with precipitation, cold weather days, average commute times, alternative-fuel stations per capita, road and bridge quality, roadway miles per 1,000 persons, and Waze driver satisfaction ratings. Suddenly, living in a place where it’s sunny 299 days a year and rarely dips below freezing seems like a pretty sweet driving deal, doesn’t it?
Here’s where Scottsdale really shines: minimal traffic congestion, short commutes, and, let’s give credit where it’s due…300-plus days of dry, beautiful weather that never turns your morning commute into a white-knuckle ice-skating adventure. Those factors matter enormously when you’re behind the wheel daily.
Now, about those roads. Yes, Scottsdale’s Pavement Condition Index came in at 64 out of 100 in May, slightly below the national average of 68. City officials acknowledge this and have responded decisively: last year’s budget included $22.3 million for pavement overlay projects, while this year’s investment jumped to $52.9 million. That’s not just incremental improvement; that’s a historic commitment to fixing what’s broken.
The bottom line? While we all love a good kvetch about road conditions, Scottsdale drivers really do have it pretty good when you consider the complete package of what makes driving enjoyable.