As New York City grows in population, jobs, and tourists, so too have the challenges facing the city’s mobility network. According to NYCDOT, roadways have grown increasingly congested with for-hire vehicles, which have added 36.9 million trips a year between 2016-17. What’s more, vehicle registrations citywide have increased, while freight traffic and home deliveries also continued to rise. Public transport modes have suffered as well: citywide bus speeds have declined to 7.58 mph, and the on-time rate for the subway hit the lowest point of 75.2% in January 2018. Ridership, which historically has grown in line with population increases, saw declines; the number of riders on the Subway and bus fell 2.1% and 5% respectively between 2016-2017.
