New York traffic speeds hit a record low
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
If you're planning to visit Axios House during Climate Week, here's four words of advice: Don't take an Uber.
Why it matters: Traffic in midtown Manhattan — where congestion pricing still hasn't been implemented — has literally never been worse, per a new report from New York Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Gridlock Sam Schwartz.
By the numbers: In fiscal 2024, which ended on June 30, the average traffic speed in midtown Manhattan was just 4.8 mph, the lowest on record going back to 1971.
- That's in large part because total miles driven in the New York metro area grew a stunning 14% from pre-pandemic levels, as New Yorkers became more likely to order things online for delivery to their door.
Between the lines: There's no such thing as a good day to drive into Manhattan, but this week will see the worst days of the year, thanks to the UN General Assembly and the countless heads of state in town for it.
- Last year during UNGA, average midtown traffic speeds fell as low as 3.2 mph; this year will probably be worse.
The big picture: Congestion is deadly.
- Thanks in part to congestion, FDNY Medical Emergency response times increased 70%, from 8.3 minutes to 14.3 minutes, over the past decade.
- A cardiac arrest treated within four minutes has a very high chance of survival; after 10 minutes, almost no one lives.
The bottom line: Just walk. The weather's lovely.
