New York

How much time does the average driver in New York spend driving annually, and how much is due to congestion?

237 hours annually, with 112 hours due to congestion.

How much of the 981 kg of CO2 emitted yearly by the average vehicle is due to congestion?

240 kg of CO2 is emitted yearly due to congestion.

What is congestion pricing in New York, and when was it implemented?

First proposed in 2007, and then budgeted in 2019, and implanted recently on 2025, Jan 5th.

• may disproportionately affect lower-income communities who relied on cars more. Hasn’t helped address pollution from traffic on the fringes.

What are the congestion pricing fees for vehicles in New York?

9$ is capped at once per day, from 5 am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 9 pm on weekends. There are toll exemptions for specialized vehicles and low-income residents receive a 50 percent discount for their first 10 trips per month.

How did congestion pricing affect travel behavior in New York?

traffic falling 7.5% on the first day, and on Sunday estimated at 18.5%. On average that has been 273,000 fewer cars for the first week.

How has New York City supported non-motorized transportation?

It increased bike lanes by 332 miles, with 30 miles of protected bike lanes, leading to 24% of residents riding bikes daily.

What was the increase in cycling trips in New York from 2012 to 2017?

Cycling trips increased by 55%.

How many subway and bus passengers did New York City have in 2021?

New York had 760 million subway passengers and 312 million bus passengers in 2021.

What was the goal of New York’s PlaNYC sustainability plan?

“To achieve a greener, greater New York” while accommodating 1 million more residents by 2030.

How does New York's CO2 emissions compare to the U.S. average?

New York’s CO2 emissions are about one-third of the U.S. average.

What are some of the goals of PlaNYC?

Expand affordable housing, create parks, clean brownfields, improve water quality, restore coastal ecosystems, expand sustainable transport, reduce energy use, and divert 75% of solid waste from landfills.

What is New York’s goal for GHG reduction by 2030?

Reduce GHG emissions by 30%.

What criticism has PlaNYC faced regarding climate change planning?

It lacks integration of civil societies, communities, and grassroots into the planning process.

What percentage of New York’s residents ride bikes on a typical day due to increased bike lanes?

24% of residents ride bikes daily.

What environmental progress has New York achieved through its cycling infrastructure?

Increased bike lanes contributed to a 55% rise in cycling trips between 2012 and 2017.

What is the population of New York City?

New York City has a population of 8.2 million.

What percentage of New York City's population lived in poverty in 2016?

Approximately 20% of New Yorkers lived in poverty in 2016, with 46% living in near-poverty.

How many NYC residents lacked health insurance in 2014?

About 10% of NYC residents were uninsured in 2014, concentrated in high-poverty areas.

What healthcare challenges exist for uninsured residents in NYC?

Lack of public health providers forces uninsured people to rely on free clinics at hospitals, while 16 hospitals closed between 2003 and 2017.

How many people sleep in homeless shelters in New York City?

Approximately 62,000 people live in homeless shelters in NYC.

What is the Second Avenue Subway Project

14 km and 16 stations, costing 17 billion, serve a project 560,000 riders, reducing commute times by up to 30%.

What is the Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel

Modernized through a 3.2$ billion investment, 137 km long, preventing 35 million gallons of drinking water from leaking into the ground.

What are the main types of air pollutants in New York City?

PM2.5 (fine particles), nitrogen oxides (NOx), elemental carbon (EC), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3).

What are the sources of PM2.5 in New York City?

PM2.5 comes from all types of combustion sources.

What is the primary source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in New York City?

Vehicle emissions are the primary source of NOx.

What is the source of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in New York City?

SO2 comes from fossil fuel combustion at power plants and industrial facilities.

What is New York City's sustainability plan called?

New York City's first sustainability plan was PlaNYC, launched in 2007.

What was the goal of PlaNYC regarding air pollution?

PlaNYC aimed to reduce PM2.5 emissions by 40% through 14 initiatives.

What results were achieved by switching taxi fuels in New York City?

From 2007 to 2015, fuel efficiency of taxis increased from 15.7 to 33.1 Miles per Gallon, reducing nitrous oxide emissions by 82% and particulate emissions by 49%.

How did New York City improve heating systems in buildings?

New York City’s Clean Heat program (2012) converted over 6,000 buildings to cleaner fuel, reducing hospital visits by 700 annually and avoiding 300 premature births.

• eliminate the use of residual heating oil

Home heating accounts for 37% of New York’s energy use and 34% of emissions.

What is New York City’s Million Trees Initiative?

Introduced to plant 1 million trees by 2017, it exceeded its goal by 2015, reducing 2,200 tons of air pollution annually.

What was the impact of new building fuel regulations on sulfur dioxide levels?

New regulations reduced sulfur dioxide emissions by 96%.

What reductions in air pollution were achieved in New York City between 2009 and 2017?

PM2.5 decreased by 30%, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by 26%, nitric oxide (NO) by 44%, and black carbon by 30%.

How much carbon dioxide can one tree remove annually in NYC?

One tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to 11,000 miles of car emissions.

What is the estimated value of NYC’s trees in reducing air pollution?

NYC’s trees remove about 2,200 tons of air pollution annually, valued at $10 million.