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The transportation system of New York City is an unparalleled cooperation of unique, complex, and grandiose systems of infrastructure. New York City , being the largest city in the United States , has an unrivalled transportation system which includes the Largest Subway System In The World , measured by track mileage; the world's first mechanically ventilated vehicular tunnel, and even an Aerial Tramway . Through prolonged use, and a distinct history of events, the infrastructure now faces increasing problems in functionality, dependability, and funding. New York City is distinguished from other Cities In The United States because of its significant use of Public Transportation , Per Capita . While nearly 90% of Americans drive to their jobs, public transit is the overwhelmingly dominant form of transportation for New Yorkers.1 About one in every three users of mass transit in the United States and two-thirds of the nation's rail riders live in New York and its suburbs.2 New York City is the only locality in the United States where more than half of all households do not own a car (the figure is even higher in Manhattan - over 75%; nationally, the rate is 8%). is one of the largest and busiest systems in the world.]] ]] BACKGROUND History See Also: History of New York City transportation The history of New York City's transportation system began with the Dutch port of Nieuw Amsterdam . The port had maintained several roads; some were built atop former Lenape trails, others as "commuter" links to surrounding cities, and one was even paved by 1658 from orders of Petrus Stuyvesant , according to Burrow, et. al. 3 The 19th Century brought changes to the format of the system's transport- a street grid by 1811 (see the Commissioners' Plan Of 1811 ), as well as an unprecedented link between New York and Brooklyn, then separate cities, via the Brooklyn Bridge , in 1883. The , the first mechanically ventilated road tunnel in the world, was built. Building off of the rise of automobiles, the later rise of Robert Moses was essential to creating New York's modern road infrastructure. Moses was the architect of all 416 miles of parkway, many other important roads, and seven great bridges.4 Environmental and Social Issues New York City's uniquely high rate of public transit use makes it one of the most energy-efficient cities in the United States. Gasoline consumption in the city today is at the rate of the national average in the 1920s.5 See ''Metro New York'' article: {Link without Title} Researchers have found that of the 50 largest cities in the United States, New York is best positioned to endure an oil crisis with an extended gasoline price shock in the $3 to $8 dollar per gallon range.6 The city's transportation system, and the population density it makes possible, also have other effects. Scientists at Columbia University examined data from 13,102 adults in the city's five boroughs and identified correlations between New York's built environment and public health. New Yorkers residing in densely populated, pedestrian-friendly areas have significantly lower Body Mass Index (BMI) levels compared to other New Yorkers. Three characteristics of the city environment -- living in areas with mixed residential and commercial uses, living near bus and subway stops and living in population-dense areas -- were found to be inversely associated with BMI levels.7 See also this news release and this article . See Also: Environmental issues in New York City Commuting/Modal Split Of all people who commute to work in New York City, 32% use the subway, 25% drive alone, 14% take the bus, 8% travel by commuter rail, 8% walk to work, 6% Carpool , 1% use a taxi, 0.4% ride their bicycle to work, and 0.4% travel by ferry.8 54% of households in New York City do not own a car, and rely on public transportation.9 While the so-called Car Culture dominates in most American cities, mass transit has a defining influence on New York life. The subway is a popular location for politicians to meet voters during elections and is also a major venue for musicians. Each week, more than 100 musicians and ensembles -- ranging in genre from classical to Cajun, bluegrass, African, South American and jazz -- give over 150 performances sanctioned by New York City Transit at 25 locations throughout the subway system.10 3.7 million people were employed in New York City; Manhattan is the main employment center with 56% of all jobs.11 Of those working in Manhattan, 30% commute from within Manhattan, while 17% come from Queens, 16% from Brooklyn, 8% from the Bronx, and 2.5% from Staten Island. Another 4.5% commute to Manhattan from Nassau County and 2% from Suffolk County on Long Island, while 4% commute from Westchester County . 5% commute from Bergen and Hudson counties in New Jersey. Some New Yorkers reverse commute to the suburbs: 3% travel to Nassau County, 1.5% to Westchester County, 0.7% to Hudson County, 0.6% to Bergen County, 0.5% to Suffolk County, and smaller percentages to other places in the metropolitan area. INTRACITY TRANSPORTATION Railways is the lifeblood of the city.]] By far the dominant Mode Of Transportation in New York City is rail. Only 6% of shopping trips in Manhattan's Central Business District involve the use of a car.12 The city's public transportation network is the most extensive and among the oldest in North America. Responsibility for managing the various components of the system falls to several government agencies and private corporations. The largest and most important is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), a Public Benefit Corporation in the state of New York, which runs all of the city's subways and buses and two of its three commuter rail networks. Ridership in the city increased 36% to 2.2 billion annual riders from 1995 to 2005, far outpacing population growth.13 See also "MTA Ridership takes Express with 31% Surge." 24 August 2006 ''The New York Post.'' {Link without Title} Average weekday subway ridership was 5.076 million in September 2006, while combined subway and bus ridership on an average weekday that month was 7.61 million.14 .]] ;New York City Subway See Also: New York City Subway The New York City Subway is the largest Rapid Transit system in the world when measured by track mileage (656 miles, or 1,056 km of mainline track), and the fourth-largest when measured by annual ridership (1.4 billion passenger trips in 2005). It is the second-oldest subway system in the United States after the Rapid Transit System In Boston . In 2002, an average 4.8 million passengers used the metro each weekday. During one day in September 2005, 7.5 million daily riders set a record for ridership. Life in New York City is so dependent on the subway that the city is home to two of only three 24-hour subway systems in the world.The New York City Subway and the PATH both operate 24 hours a day. The city's 26 subway lines run through all boroughs except Staten Island, which is served by the Staten Island Railway . Subway riders pay with the MetroCard , which is also valid on all other rapid transit systems and buses in the city, as well as the Roosevelt Island tramway. The MetroCard has completely replaced tokens, which were used in the past, to pay fares. Fares are loaded electronically on the card. .]] ;PATH See Also: Port Authority Trans-Hudson The Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) is a subway system that links Manhattan, in New York State , to Jersey City, Hoboken, Harrison, and Newark, in New Jersey . The primary transit link between Manhattan and New Jersey, PATH carries 240,000 passengers each weekday on four lines.15 While some PATH stations are adjacent to subway stations in New York City and Newark as well as Hudson-Bergen Light Rail stations in New Jersey, there are no free transfers. The PATH system spans 13.8 miles (22.2 km) of route mileage, not including track overlap.16 Like the New York City Subway, PATH operates 24 hours a day. Opened in 1908 as the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad, a privately owned corporation, PATH since 1962 has been operated by the Port Authority Of New York And New Jersey . .]] ;Airport services See Also: AirTrain JFK AirTrain Newark Kennedy and Newark airports are served by intermodal rail systems. AirTrain JFK is an 8.1 mile (13 km) rapid transit system that connects Kennedy to New York's subway and commuter rail network in Queens. It also provides free transit between airport terminals. For trips beyond the airport the train costs $5. Roughly 4 million people rode the AirTrain to and from Kennedy in 2006, an increase of about 15% over 2005.17 AirTrain Newark is a 1.9 mile (3 km) monorail system connecting Newark's three terminals to commuter and intercity trains running on the Northeast Corridor rail line. ;Commuter rail , one of the two busiest rail stations in the country.]] See Also: Long Island Rail Road Metro-North Railroad New Jersey Transit New York City's commuter rail system is the most extensive in the United States, with about 250 stations and 20 rail lines serving more than 150 million commuters annually in the Tri-state Region .18 Commuter rail service from the suburbs is operated by two agencies. The MTA operates the Long Island Rail Road on Long Island and the Metro-North Railroad in the Hudson Valley and Connecticut. New Jersey Transit operates the rail network on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. These rail systems converge at the two busiest Train Station s in the United States, Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal , both in Manhattan. ;Intercity Rail See Also: Northeast Corridor Intercity train service from New York City is provided by Amtrak . 54 trains run each day on the busiest route, New York to Philadelphia. For trips of less than 500 miles to other Northeastern cities Amtrak is often cheaper and faster than air travel. Amtrak accounts for 47% of all non-automobile intercity trips between New York and Washington, D.C. and about 14% of all intercity trips (including those by automobile) between those cities.19 Amtrak's high-speed Acela trains run from New York to Boston and Washington, D.C. using tilting technology and fast electric locomotives. This route, known as the Northeast Corridor , accounts for about half of Amtrak's total national ridership.20 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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