Welcome, commuters!

Did you get stuck in Interstate 380 traffic today? Have too many other drivers discovered your favorite Highway 1 shortcut to the Hawkeye game? Did you spend more time commuting to work today than you did talking to your kids before school?

Take heart, you're not alone.

Studies by Iowa State University's Center for Transportation Research show the number of Iowa commuters is rising. For example, in the 2000 Census 22 percent of working Iowans commuted to work outside of their home counties. Judging by the number of cars ahead of me on the highway this morning, that number is surely higher today.