Groupe Chronos

The Infernal Triangle

Between 2003 and 2007, New York City saw the creation of 200,000 new jobs and was home to 130,000 new residents. During this period traffic decreased 1.6%, which means that the increased population got around the city on public transportation. This is proven by the increased ridership on buses and subways, and a 70% increase in cycling (New York City Grew, but Traffic Didn't - New York Times.) The result of this increased usage is a deficit of 1.2 billion dollars for the operator New York MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) and double that amount needed in 2009 for long neglected renovations. Who pays? Logically, the user, yet that would amount to a 25% increase in rates of public transportation. As a response, that could encourage 30,000 cars to return the roads, reducing the already low average speed by 4%. "The car and parking is only possible because some motorists migrate to public transport. Otherwise, the streets would be totally congested and the movement of cars and buses would be paralyzed."

Read the full article in French.