NEW YORK CITY BRIDGE TRAFFIC VOLUMES 2005 The City of New York Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor NEW YORK CITY New York City Department of Transportation Iris Weinshall, Commissioner A member of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council August 2006 New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes 2005 Contract D000642 2005-2006: PTDT05P00.01 2006-2007: PTDT06P00.01 The preparation of this report was financed in part with funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, under the Federal Highway Act of 1956, as amended, and the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, as amended. This document is disseminated by the New York City Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. It reflects the views of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), which is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The report does not necessarily reflect any official views or policies of the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, or the State of New York. The report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. NYCDOT is grateful to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels (MTABT), and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), for providing data used to develop this report. Prepared by: New York City Department of Transportation Iris Weinshall Commissioner Judith E. Bergtraum First Deputy Commissioner David Woloch Deputy Commissioner/Senior Policy Advisor Michael Primeggia Deputy Commissioner Naim Rasheed Director, Traffic Planning Ann Marie Sledge-Doherty Deputy Director, Traffic Planning Richard P. Roan Traffic Planning TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION . 7 SUMMARY . 10 2005 Volumes . 10 Major Increases . 10 Major Decreases . 10 Ten-Year Trends: 1995 - 2005 . 11 Historic Trends . 11 Major Bridge Reconstruction in 2005 . 12 New York City Bridges Map . 25 Average Daily Traffic Volumes 1948 - 2005 . 27 7am - 7pm Vehicle Classification in 2005 . 30 Traffic Volume Trends 2004 - 2005 . 32 10-Year Traffic Growth Rate Trends 1955 - 2005 . 35 EAST RIVER BRIDGES . 38 Average Daily Traffic Volumes 1948 - 2005 . 39 Brooklyn . 40 Manhattan . 41 Queensboro . 42 Williamsburg . 43 HARLEM RIVER BRIDGES . 44 Average Daily Traffic Volumes 1948 - 2005 . 45 Alexander Hamilton . 47 PAGE Broadway . 48 Macombs Dam . 49 Madison Avenue . 50 Third Avenue . 51 University Heights . 52 Washington . 53 Willis Avenue . 54 145th Street . 55 BROOKLYN-QUEENS BRIDGES . 56 Average Daily Traffic Volumes 1948 - 2005 . 57 Grand Street . 58 Greenpoint Avenue . 59 Kosciuszko . 60 Pulaski . 61 BRONX BRIDGES . 62 Average Daily Traffic Volumes 1948 - 2005 . 63 City Island . 65 East 174th Street . 66 Eastchester . 67 Eastern Boulevard . 68 Hutchinson River Parkway . 69 Pelham . 70 PAGE Unionport . 71 Westchester Avenue . 72 BROOKLYN BRIDGES . 73 Average Daily Traffic Volumes 1948 - 2005 . 74 Carroll Street . 76 Cropsey Avenue . 77 Hamilton Avenue . 78 Metropolitan Avenue . 79 Mill Basin . 80 Ninth Street . 81 Stillwell Avenue . 82 Third Avenue . 83 Third Street . 84 Union Street . 85 QUEENS BRIDGES . 86 Average Daily Traffic Volumes 1948 - 2005 . 87 Borden Avenue . 89 Flushing . 90 Hook Creek . 91 Hunter's Point . 92 Little Neck . 93 Midtown Highway . 94 PAGE North Channel . 95 Rikers Island . 96 Roosevelt Avenue . 97 Roosevelt Island . 98 Whitestone Expressway . 99 STATEN ISLAND BRIDGES . 100 Average Daily Traffic Volumes 1948 - 2005 . 101 Fresh Kills . 102 MTA BRIDGES AND TUNNELS FACILITIES . 103 Average Daily Traffic Volumes 1948 -2005 Manhattan Facilities . 104 Outer Borough Facilities . 105 2005 Hourly Volumes Manhattan Facilities . 106 Outer Borough Facilities . 107 PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY FACILITIES . 108 Average Daily Traffic Volumes 1948 - 2005 Manhattan Facilities . 109 Outer Borough Bridges . 110 2005 Hourly Volumes Manhattan Facilities . 111 Outer Borough Bridges . 112 Introduction INTRODUCTION The 2005 New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes report is an annual publication prepared by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), and funded by the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21). Since 1948, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) has monitored traffic flow on 47 bridges operated by the City of New York. This 2005 New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes report summarizes vehicular volumes, classification data, and trends for the 47 bridges that cross over water. Volume and trend information also is presented for the nine bridges and tunnels operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels (MTABT), and the six bridges and tunnels operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ). All bridges are monitored with automatic traffic recording (ATR) machines. Hourly volumes by direction for each bridge are presented in tabular form. Graphical presentations of the hourly volumes by direction are provided by histograms. Hourly classification data identifies the volumes of automobiles, buses, commuter vans, trucks, and commercial vans for the 7am-7pm time period. A regression analysis of the total daily volumes for each facility for the years 1948-2005 was performed in order to develop trend information. In addition, changes in the traffic volumes for all facilities over the past 57 years are shown in graphical form. The report presents annual growth rates for each bridge. These growth rates are derived from the linear regression equation, which reflects the best fitting straight line for the data plotted. A more comprehensive analysis of bridges and tunnels serving Manhattan is presented in the Manhattan River Crossings report which also is published annually. The 47 New York City bridges and the MTABT and PANYNJ facilities have been designated a highway functional classification. Functional classification is the process by which streets and highways are grouped into classes, or systems, according to the character of service each roadway provides. The five functional systems are defined as follows: 1. Interstate - connects population centers across state lines. 2. Principal Arterial - serves major centers of activity of an urban area and carries a high proportion of the total urban area travel on a minimum of mileage. 3. Minor Arterial - interconnects with and augments urban principal arterials; provides service for trips of moderate length at a somewhat lower level of travel mobility than principal arterials; distributes travel to geographic areas smaller than those identified with the higher system..