News and Events

NYMTC regularly holds public meetings and events to keep the public informed and involved in regional transportation planning activities.

Meetings are held as a regular course of the planning process. Public involvement is critical to ensuring that future transportation investments reflect the needs, interests and concerns of those who are most affected. In addition to in-person participation opportunities, most meetings are also offered as webinars or via webcast. 

NYMTC’s Program, Finance and Administration Committee Hosts FTA and FHWA’s Public Participation Meeting

NEW YORK - At the October 18th, 2018 meeting of the Program, Finance and Administration Committee (PFAC) of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sought public comment on their certification of NYMTC’s Planning Process. Gautam Mani of the FTA made a presentation reviewing the certification process and noted the opportunity for the public to provide comments through October 31. Comments can be submitted via the following link:

PFAC Presentation
WEBCAST
October 18, 2018
FHWA/FTA PRESENTATION
Seeking Public Input for FHWA and FTA's Certification of NYMTC's Planning Process

For Immediate Release:
October 4, 2018

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz and Maura Fitzpatrick, Public Information Officers
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov and maura.fitzpatrick@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC Hosts Metropolitan Mobility Network Meeting

NEW YORK The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) relaunched its Metropolitan Mobility Network by hosting a meeting of its members on September 26, 2018 at its offices in Lower Manhattan. The Network, which was originally created in the late 1990s is being reestablished with a specific focus on Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO). NYMTC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for New York City, Long Island, and the lower Hudson Valley.

“The Metropolitan Mobility Network is an important forum for exchanging ideas about potential changes that could significantly transform when, how, and why people are traveling and goods are being moved,” said NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera. “NYMTC is looking forward to hosting quarterly meetings of the Network going forward to continue this productive discussion on the future of mobility in our region.”

The meeting featured a number of presentations regarding current TSMO activities and developments that can impact TSMO going forward.

• Gerry Bogacz, Director of Planning at NYMTC, presented on the Transformational Change and Transportation System Management & Operations (TSMO).
• Rosemary Mascali, Manager at Transit Solutions, presented on the Impact of Tax Reform on the Commuter Benefit.
• Kirk Hovenkotter, Program Associate at Transit Center, presented on the Development of Microtransit.
• Andrew Weeks, Director of Modeling and Data Analysis at the New York City Department of Transportation, presented on ICM Concept of Operations Study for the I-495 Corridor in the New York Metropolitan Region.
• Naomi Klein, Director of Planning at the Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation, presented on the Westchester County Bee-Line System First and Last Mile Connections Mobility Study.

The Metropolitan Mobility Network consists of the staffs and member agency staffs of NYMTC and the Metropolitan Area Planning (MAP) Forum member MPOs and Councils of Government (COGs) that are involved in TSMO.

Click here to download these presentations:
Transformational Change and Transportation System Management & Operations
Impact of Tax Reform on the Commuter Benefit
Development of Microtransit
ICM Concept of Operations Study for the I-495 Corridor in the NY Metropolitan Region
Westchester County Bee-Line System First and Last Mile Connections Mobility Study

Click here to view the meeting: NYMTC’s YouTube page

Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page.

For Immediate Release:
September 25, 2018

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz and Maura Fitzpatrick, Public Information Officers
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov and maura.fitzpatrick@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC’s Program, Finance and Administration Committee Hears Presentation on FreightNYC, New York City’s Latest Comprehensive Freight Plan

Resolutions adopted for the 2018 Title VI Program, and the 2018-2045 Regional Transportation Plan among others

NEW YORK - “Today we learned more about NYC’s efforts to reduce over-reliance on trucks for freight distribution. FreightNYC lays out a $100 million multi-modal investment strategy to support increased freight distribution by rail, maritime, and cleaner trucks,” said NYMTC Executive Director Jose M. Rivera.

Following this presentation, NYMTC staff introduced a series of resolutions for PFAC consideration. The Committee adopted each of the following resolutions:

• Setting urbanized area targets and supporting statewide targets for performance measures related to asset conditions and system performance 
• Update of NYMTC’s 2014 Title VI Program to reflect new information from the 2018-2045 Regional Transportation Plan (Plan 2045) and 2017 Congestion Management Status Report 
• Distribution of suballocations of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2018 Federal transit funding 
• Amendments to the FFYs Plan 2045 to maintain fiscal constraint 
• Amendments to the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2018-2019 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)>

Upcoming Meeting: NYMTC’s next Program, Finance and Administration Committee Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 18th, 2018.

Click here to download the presentation:
FreightNYC Goods for the Good of the People

Click here to view the meeting:
NYMTC’s YouTube page

Additional photos are available on
NYMTC’s Flickr Page.

For Immediate Release:
September 12, 2018

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz and Maura Fitzpatrick, Public Information Officers
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov and maura.fitzpatrick@dot.ny.gov

September 11th Memorial Program Student Presentations

NEW YORK - As part of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council’s (NYMTC’s) Regional Trends Series, two recipients of the September 11th Memorial Program for Regional Transportation Planning internships presented the results of their year-long research efforts. Established by NYMTC to honor the memory of three employees lost during the attacks on the World Trade Center, the September 11th Memorial Program is designed to foster the academic and professional development of students by providing them with opportunities to participate in innovative research and planning projects. It is administered by the University Transportation Research Center (UTRC).

The following presentations were made by the 2017-2018 Program recipients.

Shirin Najafabadi is a Ph.D. candidate at the Grove School of Engineering at The City College of New York. Her presentation, titled Vertical Integration of Land Use and Transportation Planning, discussed her work while interning at NYMTC. Using the I-287 corridor as a case study, she demonstrated her methodology to model opportunities to link regional transportation improvements with local land use plans.

Siddharth Shah is a recent graduate of the Masters of Urban Planning program at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service. He presented preliminary results of his work at New York City’s Department of Transportation to update the Vision Zero Borough Pedestrian Safety Action Plans. He reviewed the agency’s efforts to track progress on commitments to implement safety improvements in priority locations, and to assess the efficacy of these improvement in reducing pedestrian fatalities.

These presentations took place at a gathering at NYMTC’s Manhattan offices over a “brown-bag” lunch.

NYMTC’s Regional Trends Series provides the public with access to key industry leaders and offers information about trends and developments that are shaping the future of the transportation system.

Click here to download the presentation:
Vertical Integration of Land Use and Transportation Planning

Click here to view the meeting:
NYMTC’s YouTube page

Additional photos are available on
NYMTC’s Flickr Page.

For Immediate Release:
August 9, 2018

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC’s Program, Finance and Administration Committee Approves Amendment to the Regional Transportation Plan (Plan 2045)

Committee hears presentation on Hudson Tunnel Project at Special Meeting  

NEW YORK -On August 9, 2018, Members of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council’s (NYMTC) Program, Finance and Administration Committee (PFAC) adopted an amendment to add the remainder of the Hudson Tunnel Project to the fiscally-constrained element of Plan 2045.

“PFAC adopted a portion of this important project as an amendment to its Plan 2045 at the April 12, 2018 meeting. This amendment allows the balance of the Hudson Tunnel Project to be included in the constrained portion of the plan,” said NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera. PFAC Members heard remarks from the project sponsor, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. R. J. Palladino, of NJ TRANSIT, presented on the NJ TRANSIT-led environmental review phase of the project.

The Committee then approved an amendment to include the remaining elements of the Hudson Tunnel project in the constrained portion of Plan 2045. These elements consist of:

• Construction of a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, including railroad infrastructure in New Jersey and New York that will connect the new rail tunnel to the existing Northeast Corridor (NEC);
• Rehabilitation of the existing NEC tunnel beneath the Hudson River, known as the North River Tunnel, following completion of the new tunnel.

When the rehabilitation is complete, both the existing and new tunnels will provide redundant capacity and increased operational flexibility for Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT. Plan 2045 includes programmed projects that are in the Plan’s fiscally-constrained element and aspirational projects, proposals and studies that are in the Plan’s vision element. The vision element of the Plan includes projects that are conceptual.

Click here to download the presentation: Hudson Tunnel Project
Click here to view the meeting: NYMTC’s YouTube page
Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr page

For Immediate Release:
May 2, 2018

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC Releases Draft Transportation Conformity Determination

NYMTC Announces Public Comment Period and Public Webinars  

NEW YORK - New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) Executive Director José M. Rivera announced the release of NYMTC’s draft Transportation Conformity Determination, a federally-mandated product of NYMTC’s planning process that shows the compliance of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) with on-road motor vehicle emission budgets in the NYMTC Region.

The Transportation Conformity Determination is prepared to facilitate amendments to the Federal Fiscal Years 2018-2045 RTP and Federal Fiscal Years 2017-2021 TIP. The Transportation Conformity Determination ensures that transportation projects and programs will not cause or contribute to any new violations to federal air quality standards in the region.

NYMTC’s current RTP, Plan 2045, covers the long-range goals, objectives and needs for the transportation system that connects New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley. Plan 2045 encompasses all facets of transportation - including roads, bridges, mass transit facilities, bicycle and pedestrian networks, goods movement and transportation for those with special needs. Also, the TIP defines all of the federally-funded transportation projects (i.e. projects that will strengthen and enhance our bridges, highways, transit services, bikeways and walkways) proposed for planning, design and implementation in the NYMTC planning area over a five-year period.

The comment period, which begins May 2, 2018 and concludes May 31, 2018, will offer an opportunity for the public to comment on the draft Transportation Conformity Determination. Also, NYMTC will host two online public webinars on Thursday, May 17 at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to present details and gather public comment.

For more information, please click here to review the draft Transportation Conformity Determination and offer your input.

NYMTC’s Regional Trends Series:
Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan

April 30, 2018 

NEW YORK -The New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) offered a special presentation at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) regarding the recently approved Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan.

As part of NYMTC’s Regional Trends Series, Bronx Neighborhood Studies Manager Michael Parkinson and Conor Clarke, DCP’s Transportation Project Manager, discussed the agency’s holistic approach to neighborhood planning and presented outcomes of the planning process. These included transportation recommendations and recently adopted changes to zoning within a variety of neighborhoods in the southwest Bronx. The Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan was approved by the New York City Council on March 22.

Looking at current and future community needs, the Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Planning Study encompassed a two-mile stretch of Jerome Avenue, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods. The study was partly funded through NYMTC’s Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). Serving as NYMTC’s budget, it is the guiding document that helps NYMTC determine how federal funding will be spent each year for transportation-related planning activities.

NYMTC’s Regional Trends Series provides the public with access to key industry leaders and offers information about trends and developments that are shaping the future of the transportation system.

Click here to download the presentation: Jerome Ave Transportation Study
Click here to view the meeting: NYMTC's YouTube page
Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page

For Immediate Release:
April 13, 2018

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC’s Program, Finance and Administration Committee Approves Amendments to Key Planning Products

Committee hears presentation on New Route 59 Land and Transportation Study  

NEW YORK - Members of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council’s (NYMTC) Program, Finance and Administration Committee (PFAC) adopted amendments to Plan 2045 and the State Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).

“These amendments will help NYMTC to be nimbler in addressing the needs of its members, as we all collectively work towards improving our regional transportation system,” said NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera. “Plan 2045 and the UPWP allow NYMTC and its members to plan today for the future.”

At the April 12 meeting, PFAC Members approved amendments to the constrained element Plan 2045 – NYMTC’s current Regional Transportation Plan – to include the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing Section 3 Project. Plan 2045 includes programmed projects that are in the Plan’s fiscally-constrained element and aspirational projects, proposals and studies that are in the Plan’s vision element. The vision element of the Plan includes projects that are conceptual.

Also, following a presentation by Gerry Bogacz, NYMTC’s Planning Group Director, the Committee voted to include amendments to this year’s UPWP for the Route 59 Transportation and Land Use Study in Rockland County. Previously, the Council adopted the $41.5 million UPWP at NYMTC’s Annual Meeting. Serving as NYMTC’s budget, it is the guiding document that helps NYMTC and its members to determine how federal funding will be spent this year for planning activities.

Click here to download the presentation: Route 59 Area Transportation & Land Use Study

Upcoming Meeting: NYMTC’s next Program, Finance and Administration Committee Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 24 at 12:15 p.m

Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page.

NYMTC’s Regional Trends Series: Big Data, Autonomous Mobility and the Law

March 27, 2018

NEW YORK - Matthew W. Daus, Esq., former Commissioner and Chair of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), offered a special presentation at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) regarding the future of transportation technology, as it relates to big data, autonomous mobility and the law.

Mr. Daus – a transportation technology lawyer, Distinguished Lecturer at the City College of New York’s University Transportation Research Center (UTRC) and President of the International Association of Transportation Regulators – discussed the evolving laws and regulations impacting transportation data and privacy, including access to data (transportation network companies, taxis, paratransit, airports) by the public, government, academia and competing private company interests.

As part of NYMTC’s Regional Trends Series, Mr. Daus addressed the legal and policy issues being researched internationally, and led an interactive discussion on the future of the for-hire ground transportation industry as autonomous and connected vehicle technology progresses daily.

Click here to download the presentation: Big Data, Autonomous Mobility & The Law

NYMTC’s Regional Trends Series provides the public with access to key industry leaders and offers information about trends and developments that are shaping the future of the transportation system. The views and opinions expressed in these discussions are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NYMTC.

Click here to view the meeting: NYMTC's YouTube page.

Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page.

For Immediate Release:
March 1, 2018

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

Nassau County Executive Curran Confirmed as NYMTC Co-Chair

Kathryn S. Wylde serves as keynote speaker and NYMTC Council adopts $41.5 million Unified Planning Work Program

NEW YORK - Nassau County Executive Laura Curran was confirmed as Co-Chair of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) at its 2018 Annual Meeting.

“I would like to thank the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council Executive Director José M. Rivera for the opportunity to serve as Co-Chair,” said County Executive Curran. “I look forward to serving and collaborating with NYMTC to advance innovative projects that will improve our regional transportation network. Investments in our infrastructure will help drive economic growth and make our region more resilient for the future.”

During the February 27 meeting, which was held at the City College of New York (CCNY), NYMTC Council Members elected County Executive Curran as Co-Chair for the 2018-2019 term. Previously, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell served as NYMTC’s Co-Chair for two consecutive terms. Also, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Acting Commissioner Paul A. Karas is NYMTC’s permanent Co-Chair.

Additionally, NYMTC announced the release of its 2018 Annual Report, which is titled “Coming Together to Shape the Region’s Future.” To obtain a copy of NYMTC’s 2018 Annual Report, please click here.

“NYMTC Council Members continue to collaborate in addressing the existing needs and challenges of this region. Our annual report, titled ‘Coming Together to Shape the Region’s Future’ is a testament to that,” said NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera. “Over the past year, with the support of the Council, NYMTC staff continued to streamline administrative processes that help member agencies expedite the delivery of federal-aid transportation projects needed to adequately maintain the region’s transportation infrastructure.”

“I would like to thank the Council, particularly NYMTC Co-Chair and Putnam County Executive Odell and former NYSDOT Commissioner Driscoll for their support and leadership,” NYMTC Executive Director Rivera continued. “I now look forward to working NYSDOT Commissioner Karas and Nassau County Executive Curran, along with the rest of Council Members, in continuing to address the region’s transportation planning challenges.”

Also, serving as the Annual Meeting’s keynote speaker, Kathryn S. Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, offered a special presentation titled “Transit, Traffic and Taxes.” Ms. Wylde discussed new challenges for the New York City metro region and focused on how the transportation priorities of the region need to be addressed through more creative, nontraditional means than in the past. Ms. Wylde highlighted a recent report by the Partnership for New York City, which disclosed that traffic congestion costs the metro New York region $20 billion annually. She also mentioned a recent Fix NYC Panel report, which recommended a congestion pricing zone in Manhattan, along with new charges on for-hire vehicles, to help to generate a more sustainable funding stream to fund transit improvements. This includes encouraging public-private partnerships, authorizing value capture and design-build opportunities to help streamline transportation infrastructure.

“It’s time to recognize that nobody else is going to pay for it,” said Wylde, while mentioning other funding opportunities for infrastructure.

Council Members also adopted NYMTC’s SFY 2018-2019 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The UPWP is a guiding document that helps NYMTC and its members to determine how federal funding will be spent each year for planning activities.

“The $41.5 million Unified Planning Work Program continues to address many of the region’s planning needs and priorities in 2018,” said NYMTC Executive Director Rivera.

Click here to view the meeting: NYMTC's YouTube page

Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page.

For Immediate Release:
January 22, 2018

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC Report: Public Transportation Leads Daily Travel in Manhattan's Central Business District

1.82 million persons entered and exited Manhattan’s CBD by car, taxi, van or truck  

NEW YORK - More than 75 percent of the 7.8 million people who entered and exited Manhattan’s Central Business District (CBD) – on an average fall weekday in 2016 – utilized public transportation, according to new data from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC).

NYMTC’s newly released Hub Bound Travel Data Report highlights that nearly six million people boarded public transportation to enter and leave the CBD on an average October business day, while 1.82 million used cars, taxis, vans or trucks – a 60,000 drop from the prior year (see Figure 1). The total persons whom entered and left the CBD by automobile did so through the 60th Street sector (819,535).

On an annual basis, NYMTC partners with 15 state, city and county agencies, transportation authorities as well as private transportation organizations to collect data that represent a typical travel day in-and-out of New York City’s CBD. The CBD or the “Hub” includes the lower portion of Manhattan from the northern boundary of 60th Street to the southern boundary of Battery Park. In NYMTC’s Hub Bound Travel Data Report, data for persons traveling by means of public transportation, motor vehicle, and bicycle were tracked on an average fall weekday in October 2016.

During this time period, 622,719 of the total 1.4 million cars, taxis, vans and trucks entering and leaving the Hub utilized the 60th Street sector. Meanwhile, nearly 353,000 vehicles passed through Brooklyn Sector; 244,000 used the Queens Sector and 184,000 vehicles utilized the New Jersey sector to enter and exit the CBD, according to NYMTC’s Hub Bound Travel Report (See map for crossing type).

Highlighting the public’s preference for public transportation in the CBD, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s New York City Transit accounted for 82 percent of total rail service entering and leaving the CBD. Also, 84 percent of total express bus passengers entered the Hub from New Jersey. Additionally, bike riding increased by almost 170 percent over the past decade, reaching about 32,000 bicyclists entering the Hub in 2016. Meanwhile, ferry service became more of a favorite for many, as there was a 13% increase in ferry ridership from the prior year to 123,000 (see Figure 1).

With this large influx of individuals entering and exiting the CBD, a number that is comparable to the total population of New York City, peak travel times, such as rush hour before and after work, are the most jammed and overcrowded. For instance, more than a third of the 3.9 million people that entered Manhattan’s CBD did so during the morning rush from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The most congested hour for travel was 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., when nearly 626,000 people traveled into the CBD (see Figure 2).

The first travel survey of the Manhattan’s CBD was conducted and published by the Regional Plan Association (RPA) in 1924. The report referred to the district as the “Hub,” reflecting the CBD’s unique role in the region’s economy. Subsequent surveys were conducted at eight-year intervals until 1963, when the Tri-State Regional Planning Commission (NYMTC’s predecessor) assumed responsibility for the project, publishing it annually beginning in 1971. Since its inception in 1982, NYMTC has sponsored the project and published the annual report.

For more information, please view the Hub Bound Travel Data Report here.

For Immediate Release:
January 19, 2018

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC Program, Finance and Administration Committee Hears Presentation on NYCx Climate Action Challenge

Resolutions adopted for new Unified Planning Work Program and recommendation of projects to improve accessibility and mobility for seniors and persons with disabilities

NEW YORK - During its first meeting of 2018, members of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council’s (NYMTC) Program, Finance and Administration Committee (PFAC) heard a special presentation from New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Deputy Commissioner for Policy Michael Replogle regarding New York City’s NYCx Climate Action Challenge.

“The reduction of emissions and dealing with an ever-changing regional transportation system are some of the major goals NYMTC and its members tackle daily,” said NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera. “As a region, new-age thinking – as outlined in the NYCx Climate Action Challenge – can help us achieve these targets and address future challenges. It is an honor to have Deputy Commissioner Replogle on hand to highlight this new initiative from Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration.”

Focused on electric vehicle infrastructure and charging stations, as well as New York City’s climate goals, Deputy Commissioner Replogle noted to PFAC members during their January 18 meeting that this new effort involves a collaborative effort in working with civic, industry and tech experts to develop new technologies and reduce greenhouse gases.

“The City has a strong commitment to reduce greenhouse gas goals and climate change poses a huge challenge to our region; we have over 500 miles of coast line in New York City alone,” said Deputy Commissioner Replogle, while noting that Superstorm Sandy exposed “the vulnerabilities that we have here as a city and as a region.”

The NYCx Climate Action Challenge calls on the industry to develop and deliver electric vehicle charging hub solutions and accelerate the use of electric vehicles citywide. NYC DOT, the Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and New York City’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) are leading this effort to replace all gas-powered vehicles in New York City.

“We are calling on the tech industry to develop and deliver creative solutions to scale EV [electric vehicle] charging hubs and to scale the use of EVs [electric vehicles] citywide,” Deputy Commissioner Replogle added.

While the challenge concluded its expression of interest on January 15, interested parties can apply until February 16 – with finalists and winners being announced this spring.

“We know that there is more that we can do,” said Deputy Commissioner Replogle.

Click here to download the presentation: New York City’s NYCx Climate Action Challenge

Additionally, the Committee decided to recommend the draft State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2018-2019 Unified Planning Work Program for Council adoption. The UPWP is a guiding document that helps NYMTC and its members to determine how federal funding will be spent each year for planning activities. Also, PFAC recommended projects for funding through the Section 5310 Program – otherwise known as the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Public Transportation grants program.

“NYMTC is happy help and assist its member agencies – who are based in New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley – in gaining access to funding to improve accessibility and mobility for seniors and persons with disabilities,” said NYMTC Executive Director Rivera.

PFAC members adopted various resolutions, which included:

• Recommendation of the Draft State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2018‐2019 Unified Planning Work Program for Council Adoption; and
• Supporting Safety Performance Targets Under the Transportation Performance Management Requirements; and:
• Recommendation of Projects to be Funded through the Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) 2016 and 2017 Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program; and
• Amendments to the Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) 2018‐2045 Regional Transportation Plan (Plan 2045) to Maintain Fiscal Constraint; and
• Amendments to the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2017‐2018 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).

Upcoming Meeting: NYMTC’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 27 at 11:15 a.m.

Click here to view the meeting: NYMTC's YouTube Page.

Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page.

Metropolitan Area Planning Forum Holds Annual Meeting in New York City

December 7, 2017 

NEW YORK - The Metropolitan Area Planning (MAP) Forum, a consortium of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut-Pennsylvania region, held its 2017 Annual Meeting on December 7 at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC).

Members of the MAP Forum discussed recent regional transportation and planning developments, including transportation performance management, the Post-Hurricane Sandy Transportation Resiliency Study, Cross-Harbor goods movement, the Hudson Tunnel project, the Lincoln Tunnel Helix and Express Bus Lane and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Also, details were provided on new Regional Transportation Plans for both New York and northern New Jersey.

"NYMTC is pleased to host this year’s Annual Meeting of the MAP Forum. It’s truly an honor to discuss, collaborate and share information,” said NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera. "As MPOs and regional councils of government, we plan and invest today to make sure our regional transportation system is better equipped for tomorrow."

The widely-attended meeting featured presentations (accessible below) by NYMTC, the New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and Cambridge Systematics. Also, there was a roundtable discussion on Trans-Hudson Studies/Projects that featured New Jersey Transit, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

• Mary Ameen, Deputy Executive Director at NJTPA, discussed the MAP Forum’s expanded Memorandum of Understanding and new membership.
• Keith Miller, Principal Planner at NJTPA, offered a presentation on Transportation Performance Management Urbanized Area Coordination.
• Brian ten Siethoff, Cambridge Systematics, presented the Federal Highway Administration’s Post-Hurricane Sandy Transportation Resilience Study in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
• Jan Khan, Manager of Regional Planning at NYMTC, provided a presentation on NYMTC’s New Regional Transportation Plan – Plan 2045.
• Lois Goldman, Director of Regional Planning at NJTPA, provided details on NJTPA’s Plan 2045: Connecting North Jersey.
• Gerry Bogacz, Director of Planning at NYMTC, discussed common themes among the Regional Transportation Plans for both NYMTC and NJTPA.

NYMTC is one of the nine surrounding MPOs and councils of government whom make up the MAP Forum. Collectively, the MAP Forum works together to better coordinate planning activities in the multi-state metropolitan region. The other organizations include:

• The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (New Jersey);
• The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (Pennsylvania):
• The Orange County Transportation Council (New York);
• The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (Connecticut);
• The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (Connecticut);
• The Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (Connecticut);
• The South Central Regional Council of Governments (Connecticut);
• The Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (Connecticut).

Click here to view the meeting: NYMTC's YouTube page

Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page

For Immediate Release:
November 20, 2017

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC Releases Draft SFY 2018-2019 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

NYMTC Announces Public Comment Period and Public Webinars for Unified Planning Work Program 

NEW YORK - New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) Executive Director José M. Rivera announced the release of NYMTC’s draft Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for the State Fiscal Year 2018-2019, a guiding document that helps NYMTC and its members to determine how federal funding will be spent for planning activities. 

The draft UPWP, which is proposed for April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019, identifies the planning priorities and activities to be carried out throughout the program year. Each year, the UPWP helps to outline recommendations and priorities for NYMTC’s 10-county planning area and enables federal funding assistance for planning activities undertaken by NYMTC’s staff and its members.

NYMTC’s current Regional Transportation Plan, Plan 2045, serves as the foundation for the annually-developed work program. It defines planning goals, priorities and opportunities for the region’s transportation system.

“The UPWP is essential to NYMTC’s ability to fulfill its members shared goals and vision to preserve and enhance our region transportation system,” said NYMTC Executive Director Rivera. “Not only is it important today, the UPWP helps to ensure proper regional planning for tomorrow.”

As the Metropolitan Planning Organization for New York City, Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley, NYMTC’s required planning products include the Regional Transportation Plan, the Transportation Improvement Program and the UPWP. Also, its required planning processes include the Congestion Management Process Status Report and Transportation Conformity.

The comment period, which begins November 20 and concludes December 19, will offer an opportunity for the public to comment on the draft UPWP. Also, NYMTC will host two online public webinars on December 14 to present the draft UPWP and gather public comment.

For more information, please click here to review the draft UPWP and offer your input.

For Immediate Release:
November 17, 2017

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC’s Program, Finance and Administration Committee Adopts Regional Transportation Planning Resolutions

NEW YORK -During its November 16 meeting, members of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council’s (NYMTC) Program, Finance and Administration Committee (PFAC) acted on resolutions related to the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) regional transportation planning products.

In its last meeting of the year, PFAC members adopted the following resolutions, which included: 

• Various Amendments to the Vision and Constrained Elements of the Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) 2018‐ 2045 Regional Transportation Plan (Plan 2045); and
• Technical Corrections to the Federal Fiscal Years (FFYs) 2018‐2045 Regional Transportation Plan (Plan 2045) and the 2017 Congestion Management Process (CMP) Status Report; and
• Amendments to the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2017‐2018 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).

Additionally, NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera highlighted key achievements for the MPO, as it has a new federally adopted Regional Transportation Plan in 2017. NYMTC has also continued to work together with its members to maintain and administer the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Federal Fiscal Years 2017-2021. The current TIP, which defines federal funding for specific transportation projects and actions over a five-year period, has recorded over 100 TIP actions since it was first adopted in September 2016, NYMTC Executive Director Rivera said.

“I would like to acknowledge the members of the Program, Finance and Administration Committee for their guidance and leadership. I am also appreciative of the hard work and commitment of NYMTC staff, including our Transportation Coordinating Committees in New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley,” said NYMTC Executive Director Rivera. “Your resiliency in helping to maintain and administer our Transportation Improvement Program for our region has been extraordinary.”

NYMTC’s current staff includes a central staff located in lower Manhattan, and staff in the three satellite offices which serve its three geographically-based Transportation Coordinating Committees (TCC). To respond to local needs, the New York City TCC, the Mid-Hudson South TCC and the Nassau/Suffolk TCC recommend transportation priorities and provide additional opportunities for interested stakeholders to become involved in the planning process.

The next PFAC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 12:15 p.m.

Click here to view the meeting: NYMTC's YouTube page

Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page.

MAP Forum Hosts First Multi-State Freight Working Group Meeting

November 2, 2017

NEW YORK – The Metropolitan Area Planning (MAP) Forum held the first meeting of its newly formed Multi-State Freight Working Group on Wednesday November 1, 2017 at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC).

“Freight movement is integral to the economic development of the northeast region,” said NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera. “The movement of goods in-and-out of our region, especially in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, is reliant on a safe and efficient transportation system. As we continue to plan for tomorrow, NYMTC is happy to host the MAP Forum’s first Multi-State Working Group meeting, and continue this productive discussion on the future of freight in our region.”

The meeting, which was held at NYMTC's office in downtown Manhattan, featured a presentation by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on its just initiated Port Master Plan development initiative. Additionally, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) discussed how New Jersey is a major distribution state for the region. Participating metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and state department of transportations (DOTs) also provided updates on freight planning activities in their areas. 

• Anne Strauss-Wieder, Director of Freight Planning at the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, offered a presentation on New Jersey: The Distribution State in the Leading U.S. Distribution Region
• Gerry Bogacz, Director of Planning at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, provided a presentation on the Multi-State Freight Working Group: Charge to the Group
• Steve Brown, Manager of Regional Transportation at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, provided a presentation on the Master Plan for the Port of New and New Jersey: A Road Map for the Next 30 Years.

The Metropolitan Area Planning (MAP) Forum is a consortium of MPOs in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut-Pennsylvania region. NYMTC is one of the nine surrounding MPOs and councils of government that work together to better coordinate planning activities in the multi-state metropolitan region. The other organizations include:

• The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (New Jersey);
• The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (Pennsylvania):
• The Orange County Transportation Council (New York);
• The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (Connecticut);
• The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (Connecticut);
• The Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (Connecticut);
• The South Central Regional Council of Governments (Connecticut);
• The Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (Connecticut).

Click here to view the meeting: NYMTC's YouTube page

Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page

For Immediate Release:
October 18, 2017

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC Report: New York Streets Safer for Pedestrians, Bicyclists

NEW YORK -As thousands of families walk to school this October as part of International Walk to School Month, new data from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) finds that streets are now safer in New York City and its surrounding counties.

Offering a very interesting picture into the overall safety of the New York metropolitan area’s transportation system, the 2015 Regional Transportation Statistical Report dives into key figures related to accidents involving pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicles over a 10-year period that concluded in 2015.

Within New York City, fatal pedestrian crashes continued to decrease to approximately 130 accidents in 2014 after recording an all-time high in 2013 for the period (See Figure 1). Also, motor vehicle crashes continued to trend downward in the five boroughs (See Figure 2). For instance, in 2015, there were 61,106 crashes, which was approximately 18,000 below the reported crashes in 2007 and nearly 5,000 below the reported crashes in 2014. Additionally, from 2013 to 2015, New York City experienced a decline of approximately 800 fatal and injury crashes that involved bicycle riders and motor vehicles (See Figure 3).

Meanwhile, New York’s suburban counties (Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester Counties) saw fatal crashes involving pedestrians (See Figure 1) and motor vehicle crashes (See Figure 2) increase. However, fatal and injury crashes involving bicyclists and motor vehicles (See Figure 3) experienced a steady decline over the 10-year period prior to 2015’s low of 965 reported incidents.

Focused on improving the region’s transportation system for the future, Plan 2045 – NYMTC’s current Regional Transportation Plan – features safety as a regional goal that is paramount to the transportation planning process. The Regional Transportation Statistical Report includes key statistics, which serve as a report card on the overall region’s performance toward achieving mobility and safety objectives.

Efforts have been in place at the local and state level to implement safety improvements and raise community awareness within NYMTC’s planning region. Previously, New York City launched “Vision Zero” in 2014 to eliminate traffic fatalities. Also, there are programs like “Safety City” that work to teach New York City school children about traffic safety. Other similar programs include the New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYC DOT) “We’re Walking Here” initiative, which invites students to discuss ways to change our behavior on the streets in order to lower traffic fatalities and injuries. Additionally, the Safe Routes to School (SRTR) program – a federal, state and local effort supported by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and other NYMTC member agencies – seeks to assist New York communities in developing and implementing projects and programs that encourage walking and bicycling to school while enhancing overall safety.

As listed in NYMTC’s Regional Transportation Plan, pedestrian safety efforts – led by its member agencies – have focused on all age groups and populations. For instance, New York City’s “Safe-Streets-for-Seniors” program – a pedestrian safety initiative for New York City’s older residents – and NYSDOT’s “Safe Seniors” pilot program in Long Island seek to educate and inform our region’s seniors. Within NYMTC’s 10-county planning region, there are similar programs that aim to encourage the safe travel of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists (See Chapter 5: Transportation System Management & Operations). Also, information regarding initiatives to enhance the region’s pedestrian and bicycle transportation system can be found in the Pedestrian and Bicycle Element of Plan 2045.

For more information, please view the Regional Transportation Statistical Report here.

For Immediate Release:
September 29, 2017

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC Program, Finance and Administration Committee Hears City Innovate Foundation Presentation on Urban Mobility Playbook

Resolutions adopted for Federal Transit Funding
and Unified Planning Work Program

NEW YORK - During its September 28 meeting, members of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council’s (NYMTC) Program, Finance and Administration Committee (PFAC) heard a special presentation from Kamran Saddique, founder and executive director of the City Innovate Foundation.

The presentation discussed how the City Innovate Foundation is utilizing open innovation and data – through its Urban Mobility Playbook and Collider Program – to help transportation officials, city agencies and public sector leaders to identify transportation and mobility challenges.

“In NYMTC’s planning region, forecasts tell us that our overall population in New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley will grow, adding additional strain on our transportation system. This includes expectations for more public transportation ridership and more congestion on our roadways,” said NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera. “From a regional planning perspective, we must think outside-the-box when it comes to exploring emerging technology, accepting innovation, understanding currently available data and adapting to new trends to better plan for the future.”

“As regions continue to cope with their changing transportation needs, especially in the New York metropolitan area, I am excited to hear more about how the City Innovate Foundation is improving urban mobility through collaboration amongst the public and private sector,” NYMTC Executive Director Rivera continued. 

In addressing PFAC members and the public, Mr. Saddique said that the public, private, academic and nonprofit sectors need to “build a data collaborative” in order to achieve long-range transportation planning goals. “Technology and data are going to help us make better informed decisions, but that’s not enough; we need to change the way we think and work,” he added.

While explaining that City Innovate’s Collider Program is helping to collaboratively identify issues in Florida’s Miami-Dade County and San Francisco, Mr. Saddique said that the Collider Program is a six month, eight workshop program that is to include at least 15 public and private stakeholders. Some prior private partners have included Microsoft, Cubic Transportation Systems, Lyft and MasterCard. 

“These data are locked in boxes and in silos,” Mr. Saddique highlighted, as he noted how data and information is discovered, documented and shared through the Collider Program.

The goal of the Collider Program is to find solutions and best practices that are then recorded in its Urban Mobility Playbook. The Playbook documents lessons learned that include relevant data, collaborative ideas and information from both public and private sectors that can help to address regional transportations challenges.

“Cities trust other cities in learning about best practices,” he added.

Click here to download the presentation: City Innovate Foundation - Helping cities solve challenges with open innovation & data

In other action items, PFAC members adopted various resolutions, which included:

• •    Amendments to distribution of the October 2016 through April 2017 portion of Federal Transit Funding; and
• •    Amendments to the State Fiscal Years (SFYs) 2017-2018 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP).

The next PFAC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 16 at 12:15 p.m.

Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page.

Click here to view the meeting: NYMTC's YouTube page.

NYMTC Hosts Presentations for September 11 Memorial Program for Regional Transportation Planning

SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

NEW YORK - As part of the September 11th Memorial Program for Regional Transportation Planning, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) hosted a brown bag discussion that included presentations from Bahman Moghimi and Patricio Vicuna – two exceptional students who served as NYMTC’s participants for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Bahman Moghimi, PhD candidate in Transportation Engineering at City College of New York, discussed the impact of Transit Signal Priority (TSP) on transit service and regional transportation planning (i.e. travel speed, congestion and air quality).

Click here to download the presentation:
Transit Signal Priority and its Effect on Traffic Congestion and Air Quality

Patricio Vicuna, PhD candidate in Transportation Engineering at City College of New York, analyzed the implementation of automatic vehicle location data mining, visualization, and dashboard functionality for evaluating the New York City Department of Transportation’s Clean Truck Program and improving regional freight delivery efficiency.

Click here to download the presentation:
Hunts Point Clean Truck Program: AVL Data Visualization

With the help of the University Transportation Research Center, NYMTC's September 11th Memorial Program for Regional Transportation Planning honors three staff members who perished in the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001: Ignatius Adanga, Charles Lesperance, and See Wong Shum. The Program provides assistance to students and organizations for projects in both academic and public policy arenas to educate and motivate those who are interested in transportation technology and planning.

Click here to view the presentations: NYMTC's YouTube page
Additional photos are available on NYMTC’s Flickr Page

For Immediate Release:
September 18, 2017

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC Report: Transportation Usage Keeps Pace with Record Surge in Population, Employment
 

NEW YORK - Public transit ridership, use of ferries and the sheer number of vehicles crossing New York’s waterways blew past prior heights, according to new data from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC).

“We have seen record growth in the New York metropolitan area and it comes as no surprise that more people are relying on our transportation network to get to where they need to go,” said NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera. “NYMTC is pleased to offer its Regional Transportation Statistical Report, which serves as a brief picture of how our massive transportation system is handling all those that live and commute within our very connected region.”

NYMTC’s new report highlights growth for employment (1.51%) and population (0.56%) for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in 2015 (see Figure 1). For New York City alone, population increases ballooned to approximately 8.4 million, which was higher than any other year over the past decade. Similarly, for the multi-state metropolitan area, population figures reached nearly 21.1 million in 2015. All the while, the unemployment rate dipped to 8.1%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) - the lowest unemployment rate for the region since the Great Recession.

However, the Regional Transportation Statistical Report does highlight public transit trips decreased by 1.74% in 2015 following a record high ridership year in 2014. At that time, approximately 2.8 billion unlinked passenger trips were taken on the subway and 184.5 million trips were reported on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad – a bellwether year that surpassed the prior decade. When looking further into the data, the MTA reported increases in overall ridership to 1.76 billion for New York City Transit in 2015.

Also, millions of more people turned to our trusted waterways to get around daily. Unlinked passenger trips for the Staten Island Ferry – run by the New York City Department of Transportation – and private ferries showed a continued uptick in usage in New York and New Jersey in 2015. Specifically, there were nearly 1.6 million more trips reported on the Staten Island Ferry and private ferries in 2015, with each service reporting an 800,000 increase in annual unlinked passenger trips when compared to the prior year.

Over the same period, overall traffic volume for bridge and tunnel crossings increased by nearly 2% in 2015 in the multi-state metropolitan region. One reason for this may be the reported historical surge in new registered motor vehicles in New York’s study counties to nearly 5.9 million (See Figure 2), indicating that 90% of these registrations were registered for personal use in 2015.

The Regional Transportation Statistical Report includes key statistics, which serve as a report card on the overall region’s performance toward achieving the mobility and safety goals outlined in NYMTC’s Regional Transportation Plan. Recently, NYMTC adopted Plan 2045, its current Regional Transportation Plan, where numerous projections are utilized to effectively plan for the transportation system. NYMTC uses the New York Best Practice Model (NYBPM), a travel demand forecasting model that helps with transportation planning.

For more information, please view the Regional Transportation Statistical Report here.

NYMTC's Regional Trends Series: Adapting to App-Based Ride Services

SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

NEW YORK - Bruce Schaller, Principal of Schaller Consulting, offered a presentation at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) on how the expansion of app-based ride services such as Uber and Lyft are impacting New York’s regional transportation system.

Mr. Schaller examined the growth of app-based ride services and analyzed future implications for New York and other major cities.

NYMTC’s Regional Trends Series provides the public with access to key industry leaders and offers information about trends and developments that are shaping the future of the transportation system. The views and opinions expressed in these discussions are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NYMTC.

Click here to download the presentation: App-Based Ride Services – and the Future of Urban Transportation

Additional photos are available on NYMTC's Flickr Page

NYMTC's Regional Trends Series: Planning for Automated Vehicles

JULY 20, 2017

NEW YORK - Stephen Buckley, P.E., WSP’s (formerly WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff) Northeast Regional Manager of Planning, Environment and Traffic, offered a presentation at the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) on how regions, transit agencies and cities can better plan for automated vehicles in New York’s transportation System.

NYMTC’s Regional Trends Series provides the public with access to key industry leaders and offers information about trends and developments that are shaping the future of the transportation system. The views and opinions expressed in these discussions are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NYMTC.

Click here to download the presentation: Planning for AVs

Click here to view the presentation: NYMTC's YouTube page.

For Immediate Release:
June 30, 2017

Contact:
Jessica Ortiz, Public Information Officer
212-383-7203
jessica.ortiz@dot.ny.gov

NYMTC Council Adopts Plan 2045

NEW YORK - The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) adopted Plan 2045 – its next Regional Transportation Plan and shared vision for the future. With a focus on sustainability, Plan 2045 covers the long-range goals, objectives and needs for the transportation system that connects New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley.

Why is Plan 2045 needed? NYMTC’s planning area is projected to grow in population from 12 million to 14.3 million by 2045, which will increase overall usage of our transportation system. The current transportation system already bears the load of millions of daily passenger trips by bus, rail rapid transit, commuter rail, ferries and private vehicles, as well as millions of tons of freight moving by truck, rail and water. As a result, the Regional Transportation Plan contains numerous system preservation and system enhancements such as the Lower Hudson Transit Link, the Moynihan Station in New York City and the Nassau Hub Transit Initiative.

“More than ever before, the resiliency and sustainability of our transportation system is needed to help with the overall growth and strain we see every day in our planning region. Plan 2045 will allow us to maintain and develop a transportation system for tomorrow,” said NYMTC Executive Director José M. Rivera. “I would like to thank the Council, members of the Program, Finance, and Administration Committee and NYMTC staff for their hard work and collaboration in creating Plan 2045 – a blueprint that is truly the shared vision for our regional transportation system.”

Themed “Maintaining the Vision for a Sustainable Region,” Plan 2045 covers overall transportation planning in NYMTC’s planning area over the next quarter century. Plan 2045 encompasses all facets of transportation - including roads, bridges, mass transit facilities, bicycle and pedestrian networks, goods movement and transportation for those with special needs.

Adoption of Plan 2045 includes approval of its accompanying planning processes that are required to qualify for federal transportation funding. These include the 2017 Congestion Management Process (CMP) Status Report and the Transportation Conformity Determination. The CMP forecasts future traffic congestion and considers strategies that reduce overall congestion in the region going forward. Also, the Transportation Conformity Determination quantitatively demonstrates how Plan 2045 and the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which helps to define specific transportation projects over a five-year period, can impact future mobile source emissions.

For information regarding Plan 2045, the 2017 CMP Status Report and the Transportation Conformity Determination, please click here

NYMTC Press Releases →

NYMTC Hosts Peer Exchange Meeting with MPOS, UTRC

MAY 18, 2017 
NEW YORK – With the help of the University Transportation Research Center (UTRC), the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) hosted a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Peer Exchange meeting, which included MPOs from Northern Illinois, the Greater Philadelphia Region, the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern New Jersey.

MPO Peer Exchange Participants included NYMTC, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)

NYMTC Executive Director Jose M. Rivera, along with members of NYMTC’s Program, Finance, and Administration Committee (PFAC) participated in a lively discussion regarding MPO critical issues, funding, operations and challenges. Member agency representatives – as delegated by the Council – make up PFAC, which is responsible for overseeing NYMTC’s day-to-day activities.

The Region 2 UTRC, which served as organizer and moderator for the MPO peer exchange discussion, is one of ten original University Transportation Centers established in 1987 by the U.S. Congress. These Centers were established with the recognition that transportation plays a key role in the nation's economy and the quality of life of its citizens. The UTRC represents United States Department of Transportation Region II, including New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

NYMTC Program, Finance and Administration Committee Hears Moynihan Station Presentation, Adopts Various Resolutions

Draft Plan 2045 - NYMTC's new regional transportation plan - begins public comment on May 1

News from NYMTC
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NEW YORK - During its April 20 meeting, members of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council's (NYMTC) Program, Finance, and Administration Committee (PFAC) heard a special presentation from Michael Evans, president of the Moynihan Station Development Project.

The presentation discussed the future of Moynihan Station - including upcoming improvement plans to connect the historic James A. Farley Post Office with Penn Station, one of the busiest transit hubs in the country. The project can be traced back to first conception more than 25 years earlier and is named after late U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan. It is a multi-phase plan to transform the landmarked Post Office building into the new Manhattan home for Amtrak.

Mr. Evans highlighted to PFAC members and the general public that real construction has already started in creating the great Train Hall. Because Penn Station is currently at full capacity, with over 700,000 plus daily riders and 1,200 trains daily, Mr. Evans noted that "it is the busiest transportation node in the Western Hemisphere," with two of the busiest commuter railroads (Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit) and two of the busiest subway stations.

"What is so incredible about this project is we are going to take 100-year-old infrastructure, a beautiful historic gem and adaptably reuse it to solve a 21st century problem and create a 21st century transportation facility," Mr. Evan said during the April 20 PFAC meeting. He added that this new Farley solution will help to alleviate the congestion at Penn Station and address the incredible surge in growth of the Far West Side of Manhattan.

Additional highlights of the presentation included:

• Both Amtrak and LIRR will utilize the Moynihan Station - including plans by Amtrak to move all passenger facing to the new facility (i.e. ticket information, baggage handling, etc.) that will connect Midtown to the Far West Side.
• The Farley building will increase concourse space by 50 percent and increase vertical circulation of passengers.
• Moynihan Station Project - Phase 1: Expanded West End Concourse, Vertical Circulation, new entrances/connections.
• Moynihan Station Project - Phase 2: Taking courtyard of original Farley building - initially used for all mail sort of the Post Office building, and build a three-story atrium space for LIRR and Amtrak. Also, the Grand Train Hall will maintain prior historic trusses and incorporate a skylight system for added natural light to the transportation facility.
• Projected timeline for the project, valued at appropriately $1.594 billion, includes an expected completion by 2020.

In other action items, PFAC members adopted various resolutions, which included:

• Amendments to the State Fiscal Years (SFYs) 2016-2018 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) passed, which included a motion for adjustments to various projects NYMTC staff and its member agencies are currently carrying out in their SFY 2017-2018 UPWP. The modification included a project sponsored by the New York City Department of Transportation and projects sponsored by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that do not require any new funding for completion. The UPWP helps to determine how federal funding for planning activities will be spent over the course of a program year.
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• Adopted amendments to the Vision and Pedestrian Elements-Bicycle Elements of the Fiscal Years 2014-2040 Regional Transportation Plan: adding four project concepts - the Replacement of the Grand Street Bridge over the Newtown Creek; the Arthur E. Sheridan Expressway Enhancement Project; the Expansion of the Weigh-in-Motion Program; and the Expansion of the Clean Vehicle Program will be included to the vision element of Plan 2040, NYMTC's prior regional transportation plan. Also, the South Bronx Greenway along the Bruckner Boulevard project will be added the Pedestrian-Bicycle Element of Plan 2040 to show the New York City Department of Transportation as a co-sponsor, along with the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
• Adopted resolution for the Arthur E. Sheridan Expressway, currently classified as an inter-state, to be classified as a principal arterial roadway due to the fact than an arterial road or arterial thoroughfare is a high-capacity urban road whose primary function is to deliver traffic from collector roads to freeways or expressways.

Also, NYMTC Staff offered a recap of the planned Public Review of Plan 2045 - Federal regulations require that NYMTC update its regional transportation plan (RTP) every four years. As a result, a new plan is required by Oct. 1 2017. Following the hard work of members and staff, and input from the public, NYMTC is close to having a draft plan to be presented.

"Plan 2045, which we are labeling as 'Maintaining the Vision for a Sustainable Region,' covers the Federal Fiscal Years 2018-2045 and builds on the progress made in the past Regional Transportation Plan 2040. Our Regional Transportation Plan covers all facets of transportation - including roadways, public transportation, bicycles, pedestrians and transportation for those with special needs," said NYMTC Executive Director Jose M. Rivera.

"NYMTC's planning area is slated to grow to 14.3 million by 2045; it is essential that the programs and projects in Plan 2045 continue to move forward in order to maintain our existing infrastructure in a state of good repair and address long-range transportation needs," Executive Director Rivera continued.

Starting in May, there will be a 30-day mandatory public comment for the draft Plan 2045, the Congestion Management Process and Transportation Conformity. In total 10 in-person meetings are planned across the NYMTC planning area - including Putnam County, Westchester County, New York City, Suffolk County and Nassau County. The New York City meetings will be available as webinars as well. Public comment will also be available at https://nymtc.mysidewalk.com/.

The final Draft Plan 2045 will come to a vote to the PFAC and Council Members on June 27 and June 29, respectively.

NYMTC's Freight Transportation Working Group Meeting

NYMTC’s Freight Transportation Working Group meeting on March 21st featured a presentation on the Metropolitan Resilience Network, which is hosted by the International Center for Enterprise Awareness . The Network’s mission is to advance resilience by bringing together public and private stakeholders to collaborate on shared operational risks to their organizations and to the wider region. In pursuit of this mission, the Network connects existing risk, security, continuity and crisis efforts; provides a platform for on-going risk communications; and offers both joint exercises and a best practice knowledge base. Bill Raisch, the Network’s Director, provided an overview presentation on the Network and its activities.

The meeting also featured a discussion of the drafting of NYMTC’s new Regional Freight Plan and updates on related freight planning activities in the region, including New York State DOT’s new Freight Plan, New York City DOT’s Smart Truck Management Plan, and New York City Emergency Management’s Regional Resiliency Assessment Program. Lastly, Alycia Gilde of CALSTART announced the start of the New York Truck-Voucher Incentive Program, which provides voucher incentives for the purchase of all electric, hybrid and CNG vehicles and diesel emissions control technologies.

Download
The Metropolitan Resilience Network presentation
NYMTC's New Regional Freight Plan presentation
New York Truck-Voucher Incentive Program Fact Sheet

NYMTC’s Annual Meeting and Annual Report

NYMTC’s Annual Meeting was held on Wednesday February 22nd at the Kimmel Center at New York University. Keynote speaker Carlo Scissura, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Building Congress, spoke on the theme of the meeting and the Annual Report: Making the Case for Infrastructure Investment.

The Annual Report not only recaps NYMTC’s organizational accomplishments and those of its member agencies over the past year, it also previews relevant information on infrastructure investment from NYMTC’s next Regional Transportation Plan, which is scheduled to be adopted this coming summer.

The region’s economic prowess and livability are related to its far reaching and relatively efficient transportation network. Preserving the existing transportation network to meet current needs, and expanding it to meet future demand, requires substantial resources.

The NYMTC members adopted a $44 million annual work program for State Fiscal Year 2017-18 and amended NYMTC’s fiscally-constrained Regional Transportation Plan to add two bus rapid transit projects in Suffolk County, an important first step toward receiving federal funding for the projects. The members also confirmed Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell as co-chair for a second one year term.

Download
SFY 2017-2018 UPWP
2017 NYMTC Annual Report

Delegation from Department of Land and Resource of Chinese Henan Province visits NYMTC

On January 17, 2017, NYMTC, along with two of its member agencies: NYC Department of City Planning, and Metropolitan Transportation Authority, hosted a delegation of governmental officials from the Department of Land and Resource of Chinese Henan Province. The discussions/presentations to the delegation covered global planning issues and it was quite beneficial to be able to share best practices as we continue to address specific issues such as urban and transportation planning, sustainable land use, collection, processing and dissemination of socioeconomic data.

NYMTC hosts delegation from City of Tokyo

NYMTC hosted a peer exchange meeting with Japanese delegation on January 17, 2017, to discuss technical issues. The members represented the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Urban and Research Planning Division from the city of Tokyo.

Members of NYMTC’s Technical Group facilitated discussions that were geared towards designing travel surveys and developing activity based travel demand models for transportation planning and analysis.

New Executive Director Appointed

NYMTC’s new Executive Director, Jose Rivera, brings more than 30 years of progressively responsible management positions within the New York State Department of Transportation to his new role. He has significant experience in Program and Project Management; Project Development; Dispute Resolution; and Risk Management. Most recently, he served as the Acting Director of the Office of Construction. Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Project Director/Construction Manager for the Route 9A Project, a part of the Lower Manhattan Redevelopment efforts subsequent to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the City College of New York with leadership training from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, as well as the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations. Welcome Jose!

Announcement and Press Release

Did You Know That Town Planning Used to be an Olympic Category?

Did you know that the Olympics weren’t always only for sports, but included competitions in fine arts as well? Believe it or not, town planning used to be a competitive category in the Olympics! From 1928-1948, competitors from all over the world competed in subcategories of five primary categories: Music, Painting, Literature, Sculpture, and Architecture. It was in this way that Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee, brought arts onto the international stage with sports, giving people around the world yet another way to come together peacefully instead of violently. In the 1936 Olympic Games, American competitor Charles Downing Lay took home a silver medal in the Town Planning subcategory of Architecture for his redesign plan for Marine Park in Brooklyn, NY. John Russell Pope in the 1932 Olympic Games was the only other American to win a medal under the Architecture category. His design plans of the Payne Whitney Gymnasium at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut earned him a silver medal.

NYMTC’s Language Access Program Launched

As a step toward a more inclusive planning process, NYMTC’s Language Access Program provides translation services for people who are not fluent in English. The Language Access Program is a further enhancement to NYMTC’s public involvement efforts to increase the accessibility of information about and input into the regional transportation planning process. According to a Census-based review, just over 70% of the total Limited English Proficiency (LEP) population speaks one of three languages ‒ Spanish, Chinese and Russian ‒ and therefore these three languages are considered as primary LEP languages in NYMTC’s planning area. An additional thirty one languages are considered secondary LEP languages. If you need information in another language or have questions, please call 212-383-7200 and someone will be able to assist you.

Program Details and Translated Documents

Executive Summary Translations of NYMTC’s core regional planning products and analyses:

• Regional Transportation Plan
• Transportation Improvement Program and related Annual Listing of Obligated Projects
• Unified Planning Work Program
• Congestion Management Process Status Report
• Transportation Conformity Determination
• Public Involvement Plan

Oral Translation Services: Real-time oral and American Sign Language translation services for public meetings and workshops at locations in the project/study area will be available for the primary LEP languages upon request made verbally or in writing 72 hours prior to the meeting in question. Real-time oral language assistance will be provided through an on-call translation service by calling 212-383-7200 or email NYMTC-Web@dot.ny.gov.