New York City 'More Congested Than Ever'

The latest mobility survey conducted by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) has some bad news about congestion and travel times.

1 minute read

September 11, 2019, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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Amy Plitt and Valeria Ricciulli report on the findings of the "New York City Mobility Report" [pdf], which makes no secret of the claim that New York City is more congested than ever.

DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg explains how the city came to its current, congested state in the introduction of the survey report:

Our roadways are more congested than ever. The number of cars entering Manhattan’s central business district continued to drop, but empty for-hire vehicles (FHVs) circling the area brought no relief from congestion. Meanwhile, vehicle registrations Citywide have increased, while freight traffic and home deliveries also continued to rise.

The report doesn't just focus on cars, but also travel by bike, on foot, and on transit. That's where some of the survey's good new can be found, like data that shows more New Yorkers are walking, and that it's faster to cross town on a Citi Bike than in an Uber or a taxi.

Thursday, August 15, 2019 in Curbed New York

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