Whither the Mid-Hudson Commuter? MTA in a Changing Region William - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Whither the Mid-Hudson Commuter? MTA in a Changing Region

William Wheeler Director of Special Project Development & Planning Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Travel in the New York Region has changed from the days of the commute…

1

…to a 9-5 Office Job in Manhattan

2

Downtown White Plains Metrotech, Brooklyn Midtown Manhattan

Today, our customers work in the CBD, the

• uter-boroughs and the suburbs…

3

…in bourgeoning fields like Education, Technology and Health Care

Tompkins County…had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 5.6

• percent. The lower Hudson Valley

counties of Putnam, Rockland and Westchester had the next lowest. 4

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

5

…and their numbers are growing…

500,000,000 1,000,000,000 1,500,000,000 2,000,000,000 2,500,000,000 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Bus/Subway Ridership 1990-2012

Subway Bus

Fordham Reverse Commuters

50,000,000 55,000,000 60,000,000 65,000,000 70,000,000 75,000,000 80,000,000 85,000,000 90,000,000 Metro-North Ridership Growth 1990-2012

Subway Crowding

6

…while auto usage is tapering off nationwide

7

Demographic Trends

• Mid-Hudson Employment

projected to keep growing… …while growth rate for available local Labor Force tapers off 8

Journey To Work Travel Growth 1990-2008 County JTW Increase % Increase Orange 36,552 26% Dutchess 13,816 11% Westchester 8,193 2% Putnam 4,760 11% Rockland 2,722 2% Distribution of 2008 Journey to Work Trips County In-County Trips NYC Trips Other Mid-Hudson Trips Westchester 64% 28% 2% Putnam 32% 13% 47% Dutchess 69% 6% 19% Rockland 60% 17% 9% Orange 66% 10% 13%

Work Travel Trends

9

Mobility Trends

• Travel to the Manhattan CBD will grow

“Manhattan remains the region’s undisputed employment center…” (Federal Reserve Bank)

• But, travel to non-Manhattan CBD destinations and intra-suburban travel will

also grow

• Continued growth in reverse commuting
• Longer trips to further destinations
• More “Off-Peak” travel (midday / night / weekends)
• More non-work trips

10

Key Mid-Hudson Station Usage Station Trains (2011) Boardings (2011) Growth (1991-2011)

White Plains 86 9,456 +84% Tarrytown 52 2,684 +34% Harriman 13 763 +67% Pearl River 17 357 +18%

• MNR is now the nation’s busiest railroad
• Average weekday ridership: 287,219 (December, 2012)
• 721 Trains
• 10 Connecting Bus Services
• 2 Trans-Hudson River Ferry Services
• 121 Stations
• 5 Main Line & 3 Branch Line services

MNR at a Glance

11

Transit Plays a Critical Role

County Income earned by Rail Commuters Spending by Rail Commuters Westchester $8.8 Billion $6.8 Billion Putnam $285 Million $192 Million Dutchess $245 Million $181 Million Rockland $261 Million $190 Million Orange $243 MIllion $186 Million

• Metro-North Commuters Add Billions of Dollars to the Lower Hudson Valley

Economy

• Metro-North commuters earn significantly more than non rail users
• Household Income of MNR customers in Westchester is 130% higher than

average.

• Metro-North commuters import over $9.8 billion in earnings to the Lower

Hudson Valley

• That’s $5.2 billion more than their non-rail counterparts

12

Looking Ahead

• NYC-based commuter rail network must

now adapt to changing economy

• new reverse commutation
• intra-suburban travel
• non-work markets
• Heavy demand on equipment as the peak

spreads, the off-peak shrinks and weekend travel grows

• What should be the role of transit in the I-

287 Corridor to meet new travel needs? 13