A city traffic department study analyzed data from taxi cabs between November 2008 and 2009. That study found that most cars in those 12 months traveled an average pf 9.5 miles an hour during the week, according to the New York Times.
The study found that traffic is lightest between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., until morning rush hour hits. Unlike most major cities that see a decline in congestion midday, New York City's large business district doesn't slow down, so traffic doesn't lighten up until well after a typical rush hour is over.
There are other factors that influence traffic in New York, much like in other major cities, the study found. Rain, storms and heavy snow cause traffic to slow. Holiday shopping caused November to be the month with the slowest traffic. January was the least-congested month, the study found.
The study also found that the days in late September when the United Nations holds its General Assembly week were some of the slowest of the year.
Most New Yorkers rely on public transportation. The city has an extensive subway system and bus line. Others living in the city rely on taxis. Most people cannot control their own commute time because they are reliant on these types of public transit and only 8 percent in Manhattan reported owning a personal vehicle.
New York City has a reputation for congested streets and troublesome traffic, but studies have indicated that although New York traffic is worse than many cities, it is not the worst in the country. No intersection in the city ranked in the top 25 congested intersections in the country, as analyzed by the Federal Highway Administration. However, the average New Yorker spent 23 hours in traffic in 2003, based on the TTI Urban Mobility Report. That's less time than Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago residents spent.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg created a plan to fix congestion in Manhattan in April 2007. As part of the plan, a committee formed to review traffic control plans and develop a solution.
One plan he suggested would have charged drivers a fee to enter the most congested part of the city during high-traffic times. The fees would be used to offset road improvement and expansion costs. However, it was never implemented.
