Traffic
Streetsblog Basics
Hey Brian Lehrer — Traffic Congestion Is Not a Vision Zero Tactic
This morning on WNYC Brian Lehrer said he didn't understand why Mayor de Blasio would want to penalize Uber for making traffic congestion worse, since the mayor is "causing congestion purposely" to make streets safer for walking and biking.
July 24, 2015
The Real Reason Uber Traffic Matters in NYC
For a moment yesterday, it seemed like the big clash between the taxi medallion industry and app-based car services, framed in terms of Uber's effect on snarled Manhattan traffic, might veer into unexpectedly brilliant territory. There was Deputy Mayor Anthony Shorris in the Daily News, telling the MTA that City Hall would consider the Move NY traffic reduction plan to fund transit investment. Finally, a sign that some of the big players are getting serious about a comprehensive fix for the city's congestion problem.
July 23, 2015
Uber’s Own Numbers Show It’s Making Traffic Worse
Uber blasted out an Excel spreadsheet to reporters this morning, accompanied by a story and editorial in the Daily News, with data providing a snapshot of how many Uber vehicles are on Manhattan streets south of 59th Street, New York's central business district. While Uber claims the data shows its vehicles aren't responsible for congestion in the city core, transportation analyst Charles Komanoff has crunched Uber's own numbers and estimates that the service has actually reduced traffic speeds in the central business district by about 8 percent.
July 22, 2015
Uber and Manhattan Gridlock Are Rising Together
How responsible is Uber for the 9 percent drop in Manhattan travel speeds that New York City transportation officials reported last month? The answer appears to be: quite a lot.
July 8, 2015
Team de Blasio Makes Its Case for a One-Year “Uber Cap”
The de Blasio administration made its case for temporarily restricting the growth of licenses for ride-hailing services like Uber at a City Council hearing this morning. With congestion in Manhattan getting worse, City Hall's plan is to cap the number of new for-hire vehicles on city streets for the next year while it studies the impact of the industry on traffic.
June 30, 2015
With Congestion Getting Worse, City Wants to Stem Flood of Uber Licenses
The de Blasio administration and the City Council want to slow the growth in new black car licenses over the next year. With companies like Uber adding tens of thousands of black cars to the mix over the past few years, mainly in the most congested parts of Manhattan, the city wants to get a better handle on how the industry is affecting traffic.
June 23, 2015
Trottenberg: DOT Skipped Its Legally-Required Data Report Last Year
DOT is almost six months past due on a report card required by city law that measures whether the city is meeting its goals of reducing car use, improving safety, and shifting trips to walking, bicycling, and transit. Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg says her department is skipping a year and will instead issue a report covering two years of data in the fall.
April 30, 2015
Margaret Chin: Toll Reform Will Protect New Yorkers From Truck Traffic
City Council Member Margaret Chin today introduced legislation to require the city to examine the effects of New York City's dysfunctional bridge toll system on traffic safety. The bill would also mandate regular DOT safety audits for all city truck routes.
February 12, 2015
The Feds Quietly Acknowledge the Driving Boom Is Over
The Federal Highway Administration has very quietly acknowledged that the driving boom is over.
January 7, 2015