TRIP Report Analyzes Real Costs of LI Traffic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/24/2020
CONTACT: Thomas Meara (718) 309-3506
LICA Lauds TRIP’s Long Island Mobility Study
Report Detailed Traffic Congestion on Long Island Now and in Future
Long Island, NY - The Long Island Contractor’s Association (LICA) reacted to today’s release of a traffic congestion study for the Nassau/Suffolk region, issues by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit. LICA’s Executive Director Marc Herbst commented, “The TRIP report on Long Island’s traffic congestion quantifies the frustration every Long Islander experiences. Today, motorists are stuck in traffic an average of 81 hours per year, costing each driver the value of $1,684 in wasted time and fuel. The projections for the future are worse. Regrettably, vehicle hours of rush hour delay will increase 57% in the next 25 years unless necessary improvements are made to our transportation system. We cannot choke in constant gridlock, or our regional economy will collapse.”
Herbst surmises the current COVID-19 pandemic may accelerate the pending congestion crisis in our region. “Long Island Rail Road ridership has dramatically declined 80% while highway traffic has only dropped 20%. In addition, record numbers of people relocating out of New York City for homes on the east end of Long Island. Reluctance to return to rails due to safety concerns only adds pressure to traffic congestion.”
“TRIP has provided an excellent report that will help our public policy officials make appropriate decisions to address the expected increase in traffic congestion,” Herbst said. “LICA also thanks the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council and the Planning Departments of Nassau and Suffolk Counties for its integral support and cooperation in developing this study.”
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LICA represents the interests of over 170 of Long Island's region's premier heavy construction general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and industry supporters. Focused primarily in the transportation infrastructure construction industry, such as highways, bridges, rails, sewers and other public works, LICA's member companies play a significant role within Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The economic impact of the industry contributes $4 billion to the local region’s gross regional product.
