Trip Traffic Report Garners Local Media Attention
A special report released last week by TRIP (A National Transportation Research Nonprofit) takes a look at some of the challenges in “improving accessibility on Long Island,” including traffic congestion in the Nassau/Suffolk region and the effect it has on consumers, residents and businesses in terms of both our quality of life and our economy. As part of the report, TRIP also reviewed travel trends and freight transportation while specifically identifying some of LI’s most congested roadways and outlining some needed improvements.
The report drew the attention of local media including page 1 of Newsday as well as LI Business News. Both stories highlighted a few of the report’s key findings which estimate that the average Long Islander spends approximately 81 hours annually stuck in traffic, equating to a cost of $1,684/year in lost productivity and extra gasoline costs. More importantly, the study also analyzed the impact this congestion has on commercial vehicles and our ability to move goods and supplies effectively across our area. The report notes how these slowdowns affect our supply chain and hamper our ability to compete economically – especially critical in these difficult times.
The virtual “press release” was led by Rocky Moretti, Director of Policy and Research for TRIP. He was joined by Robert Sinclair of AAA Northeast, Matthew Cohen, Vice President of the Long Island Association and Senator Anna Kaplan (D-7), whose district happens to contain 4 of the top 10 “most congested roadways” identified in the report. All three speakers acknowledged the findings of the report and stressed the need to address the problems it highlights. Senator Kaplan remarked on the need for “big, sustained investment” in our infrastructure, saying “the time is now” and called upon the federal administration to “step up.”
LICA was pleased to lend our assistance, helping TRIP reach the proper contacts within Nassau and Suffolk counties and NYMTC (New York Metropolitan Transportation Council) to obtain the information needed for their analysis. LICA also suggested relevant speakers for the announcement. We thank them all for their participation and support.
