New York’s Fragmented Regional Transportation System
What is an ideal regional transport system? Extensive Competitive Efficient Integrated
Organized
User Friendly Flexible
The New York Region
NY
NJ
CT • • • • •
23 Million people 3 States 30 Counties 700-800 Municipalities 1/3rd of US transit riders
Public Transport is Functionally Regional
But the Region’s Transport System is an Organizational Mess
Decline and Nationalization
Fragmentation is Problematic Extensive • Poor trans-Hudson connectivity • Transit deserts
Competitive • 2/3rds of regional trips are by car • Slow subway speeds
Efficient • Rail tunnel issues • Road congestion • Segregation in shared facilities
Integrated • Diffuculty sharing infrastructure • No unified fare policy • Too many players • Disparate funding
Organized • No Single Vison • Lack of coordination in planning • Failure of regional congestion charging, ARC project, etc.
User Friendly Flexible • Aging infrastructure • Poor orbital connectivity • Serious environmental challenges
• Fare Policy • No Overall Map • Lack of connections at many close stations
Alternatives
?
Transport for London (TfL)
Transport for London (TfL) Mayor & Greater London Authority TfL Board Planning & Operations Rail • Underground • Overground • Suburban Commuter Rail
Buses • Multiple franchises
Water
Roads
• Ferry contracts
• Congestion charging • Cycle lanes • Bus lanes
Verkehrsverbund
Verkehrsverbund Federation Board
Local Goverments Operating Agencies/Firms
Planning
Coordination Operational Assignments
• • • •
Revenue Sharing Marketing Timetables Regional scope
Verkehrsverbund
A New York Transport Federation MPOs, RPA Federation Board
Municipalities, States MTA, NJT, PANYNJ, DOTs
Planning
Operational Assignments
Benefits
Challenges
• Regional approach to planning • Fare coordination • Customer experience • Shared facilities • Branding • More efficient resource allocation • Modal coordination
• • • •
Institutional resistance Politics Scale Won’t fix everything
Towards Integration