With the start of the annual United Nations General Assembly, New York City's busiest traffic time of the year begins.
The Department of Transportation has released its list of Gridlock Alert days through the end of 2024.
Road closures have already begun for the UNGA, so make sure to check your routes. Traffic data shows average vehicle speeds in the Midtown Central Business District during the General Assembly week drop to under 4 mph, which compares with a slightly more robust 6 to 7 mph on a usual day.
There's some good news for bikers. Over the past four years, the city created a temporary bike lane through the First Avenue Tunnel during UNGA and it has been effective, according to the DOT. That's why officials are in the process of redesigning the lane to make it a permanent fixture.
"This new jersey barrier-protected bike lane will create an express lane for cyclists and micro-mobility users through a portion of midtown," the NYC DOT's announcement read.
The United Nations General Assembly is in session all week. If traveling in Midtown Manhattan, expect delays and use alternate routes when possible.
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) September 21, 2024
Check out the various street closures surrounding this event⬇️
- 1st Avenue (upper roadway) closed with managed access from 42nd… pic.twitter.com/CbbwbONpBS
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Here's the list of 2024 Gridlock Alert days, so you can mark your calendars and plan to take public transit:
- Monday, September 23, 2024
- Tuesday, September 24, 2024
- Wednesday, September 25, 2024
- Thursday, September 26, 2024
- Friday, September 27, 2024
- Wednesday, November 20, 2024
- Thursday, November 21, 2024
- Friday, November 22, 2024
- Tuesday, November 26, 2024
- Tuesday, December 3, 2024
- Wednesday, December 4, 2024
- Thursday, December 5, 2024
- Friday, December 6, 2024
- Tuesday, December 10, 2024
- Wednesday, December 11, 2024
- Thursday, December 12, 2024
- Friday, December 13, 2024
- Tuesday, December 17, 2024
- Wednesday, December 18, 2024
- Thursday, December 19, 2024
Local
Motorcades are the main reason for traffic headaches, as they crisscross the city while weaving in and out of traffic — including the usual marked green bike lanes.
The bottomline: Avoid midtown if using streets in any way. The MTA urges using mass transit, though bus lanes will be squeezed in midtown, creating delays on those lines.
