New York City and traffic … They’re virtually synonymous! If you drive in the city, then you most likely spend a fair amount of time stuck in traffic. Sure, you could do all your driving at 3 a.m. to totally avoid getting caught in delays, or you can just do these simple things you can do to help avoid NYC traffic.
This Guest Blog comes to us from Bernie Wagenblast, who has been involved with NYC traffic and transit for over 30 years. He was one of the original Shadow Traffic reporters in 1979 and currently is heard on weekends on 1010 WINS. Sign up for Bernie’s newsletter here.
1) Call 5-1-1- to Check the Road Conditions Before you Leave
You know about 9-1-1 and 3-1-1, but did you know there’s also a free number you can dial from your cellphone or landline to get real-time NYC traffic and transit information? The automated system, operated by the New York State Department of Transportation, lets you say the borough or roadway you want information on. Then you’ll hear alerts about any problems, such as accidents, construction and delays. Since the system takes commands by voice, you can get information while you’re en route without having to worry about hitting phone keys while driving.
Before you leave your house or office, you can also check the companion website for 5-1-1 at 511ny.org. Here you can see on a map where the problem spots are and also check on current speeds and even watch the traffic cameras to verify conditions.
A great feature lets you register trips you take often so when you call, My511NY will automatically list the traffic and transit conditions for all your trips.
5-1-1 provides information for not only New York City, but the entire State of New York as well as neighboring sections of New Jersey and Connecticut.
2) Use the MTA Website for Subway, Bus, and Train Conditions
The MTA website tells you about current and expected conditions on each of the city’s subway and bus lines as well as the Staten Island Railway, Metro-North and LIRR. The site includes a trip-planner that gives you how to get from here to there by public transportation.
3) Listen to Radio Traffic Reports
This is a resource that’s near and dear to my heart since I’ve spent quite a few years telling New Yorkers about the problems they’ll encounter as they negotiate the transportation network. The three key stations you should store in your radio are WCBS 880 AM, WINS 1010 AM and WEMP 101.9 FM. These three stations provide traffic updates 24/7. You can hear reports on WINS on the 1s, on WEMP on the 5s and WCBS on the 8s.
Margot Tohn of Park It spends her day coming up with ways to make driving, parking and walking in NYC easier. Check out her musings at www.parkitnyc.com.