Transit, Tolls, Parking, Planning, Reducing Automobile Use

T.A's roots are in cycling and pedestrian advocacy. But this is only part of what we do. T.A. was chartered in 1973 to reduce automobile use in New York City by encouraging "alternative" forms of travel; and to reduce the environmental, social and economic costs of too much motor vehicle use. At the core of T.A.'s philosophy and advocacy is the "Green Transportation Hierarchy." This simple order helps clarify complicated transportation questions. Because NYC already has a highly effective transit advocate--the Straphangers Campaign--T.A.'s sensible transportation work focuses on making sure transportation funding is fair; ensuring transportation projects--including the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan--encourage cycling, walking and public transit; charging motor vehicles for the use of scarce public space when they park and cross bridges; and making sure that moving freight and garbage causes the least possible harm.

Bus Rapid Transit | Transit | Clean Air | Congestion Pricing | Trucks | Highways | Parking | Gowanus Expressway | Reducing Automobile Dependence | Bike and Pedestrian Transportation Funding

Bus Rapid Transit

New York City's bus system is the slowest in the nation; the system's average speed is 7.5 mph. Despite service that is frequently delayed by heavy traffic, 2.5 million New Yorkers board a bus each day. Measures like free transfers with the subway system have steadily boosted ridership over the past decade. [more]

Transit

Quality transit service is a key component of a sensible transportation system. New York must repair and expand its transit system in order to improve quality of life and strengthen the economy of the region.[more]

Clean Air

New York has asthma and respiratory cancer rates much higher than the national average.  Most air pollution is caused by its transportation system. [more]

Congestion Pricing

Traffic jams in New York are a tremendous drain on the economy and quality of life, but economic solutions exist to end the gridlock. [more]

Trucks

Lack of regional freight transportation planning has led to a situation in which New York is overrun with enormous trucks. [more]

Highways

Construction of new highways has proven to be disastrous for cities and the environment while yielding little or no economic advantages. [more]

Gowanus Expressway

One of the worst highway projects ever was the construction of the Gowanus Expressway, an elevated freeway that decimated the vibrant urban neighborhoods it passed through.  Transportation Alternatives and the community have sued to prevent the reconstruction of this highway in favor of a tunnel. [more]

Reducing Automobile Dependence

Transportation Alternatives encourages the city and the region to take concrete steps to decrease the region's reliance on the automobile. [more]

Bike and Pedestrian Transportation Funding

Transportation Alternatives fights to make sure that bicycle and pedestrian projects receive their fair share of transportation funding. [more]