Whither the Dashing Commuter?

Transcription

1 Whither the Dashing Commuter? The MTA in a Changing Region William Wheeler Director of Special Project Development and Planning

2 Travel in the New York Region has changed from the days of the 9 to 5 commute

3 to an Office Job in Manhattan

4 Today, our customers work in the CBD, the outer-boroughs and the suburbs Midtown Manhattan Metrotech, Brooklyn Flushing, Queens Downtown Stamford

5 in bourgeoning fields like Technology and Health Care

6 They still travel in rush hour, but also Midday, late nights and weekends

7 They have gotten younger and older Over 2.7 million people in NYC are under 25, and over 900,000 are over 65 Subway rider s median age is 40.9, while bus rider s median age is 49.2

8 and their numbers are growing

9 while auto usage is tapering off nationwide

10 Travel Demand is Changing Daily transit ridership up 58% since 1992 o Subway and commuter up, bus flattening Peak period transit travel to the CBD is flattening o Expansion of non-peak (mid-day, nights, weekends) work travel o More trips within Outer Boroughs o Growing non-work trips Auto use trending down Emerging residential (Bushwick, Williamsburg) and business districts (Long Island City, White Plains, Downtown Brooklyn) Changes driven by emerging 24/7/365 economy 9

11 Significant MTA Ridership Growth Over 20 Years Average Weekday Paid Rides Millions MTA Other NYCT 7.71m m m Source: MTA Annual Reports; excludes MTA B&T Crossings 10

12 Thousands Peak Hour Transit Use to CBD is Flattening Thousands Subway Arrivals LIRR & MNR Arrivals 2, , , , , , Hours 6-10 AM 8-9 AM 24 Hr 6-10AM 8-9 AM Source: NYMTC Hub-Bound data 11

13 Growth in Industries Less Tied to the 9 To 5 Changes in County Employment by Industry % 30% 10% -10% -30% -50% Wst Nas Suf Manh US -70% Source: US Census County Business Patterns 12

14 Commutation Ticket Sales Trending Down, While Non-Commutation Tickets Sales Growing 80% MNR 80% LIRR 70% 70% 60% 60% 50% 50% 40% 40% 30% 30% 20% %Comm 20% %Comm 10% %NonComm 10% %NonComm 0% 0% Source: MNR and LIRR 2012 Reports 13

15 Nationwide Auto Usage is Dropping 14

16 The Rise of the Millennials Born in the 80s or later; entered the workforce in Work patterns don t fit traditional 9-5 commuting patterns Growing preference for urban, transit-friendly communities. 59 percent of those surveyed prefer a home in a neighborhood that has a variety of housing types. For example, 62 percent said they prefer mixed-use developments with shops, restaurants, and offices, and 52 percent say they like pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. -- National Association of Realtors

17 The Rise of the Millennials Millennials are showing preference for public transit rather than car ownership Where auto travel is necessary, short-term rentals or car-sharing services are increasingly popular Millennials own fewer cars and drive less than their predecessors. They d rather walk, bike, car-share, and use public transportation and want to live where that s all easy. -- National Association of Realtors

18 The Rise of the Millennials Millennials want quality transit service, the ability to work with their smart technology, and access to real-time information on service status Because of the future demands of this millennial generation, transportation systems and public transportation systems in particular, will be built around the smart phone. APTA anticipates adoption of features such as: smartphone charging stations on vehicles and facilities; fare collection via smartphone; Wi-FI, 4G and 3G access; apps that connect public transit access to local amenities; and seamless multimodal connections -- APTA

19 Don t Forget The Boomers 26% of the MTA region s population Born Leaving the labor force in growing numbers Roughly 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn 65 today, and about 10,000 more will cross that threshold every day for the next 19 years. -- Pew Research Center

20 Don t Forget The Boomers Boomers are opting to retire in place They have the financial resources to relocate to urban areas for mobility/lifestyle Seniors show a strong preference for communities that support walking and provide public transportation. Recent survey research by AARP found that 70 percent of respondents age 65 and older agreed that being near where they want to go, such as grocery stores, doctor s offices, the library and social or religious organizations, was extremely or very important. -- Transportation for America

21 Don t Forget The Boomers Boomers have a growing preference/reliance on public transportation They are generating more offpeak transit travel Older drivers make a greater proportion of shopping trips, more family and personal errands, and more trips for social and recreational activities than younger adults. -- AARP

22 Don t Forget The Boomers Transit needs for an aging population Improved accessibility o Low-floor buses o Station elevators Enhanced Customer information o Next stop displays o Audible announcements

23 In Summary Population continues to grow and change o Impact of Boomers and Millennials Economy in transition: 9 to 5 becoming 24/7/365 o Dominance of tech, education, health care sectors o Growth of tourism and hospitality o Fewer traditional 9 to 5 jobs in FIRE, management, administrative support. Emergence of non-traditional work patterns o No longer limited to peak hours and Manhattan CBD o Increase in part-time, self-employment, telecommuting-work o Emergence of new regional business hubs o Suburban employment growth needing more labor Is a New Normal being established? 22

24 The MTA Moving Ahead Prevent capacity and reliability backslide, maintain SOGR/NR Complete projects addressing longstanding problems o Build full-length Second Avenue Subway Possible strategies to address current trends and support future growth: o Overcome subway capacity obstacles o Optimize the transit, commuter rail, and bus network o Create a 21st Century transit system o Develop a resilient MTA network 23