New York City

:This is an article about New York City; see also NYC, New York, New York (disambiguation) and New York.

Transportation

Unlike most of America's car-oriented urban areas, public transportation is the common mode of travel for the majority of New York City residents. As of 2001, 50% of New York City households and only 20% of Manhattan households had access to a vehicle, as compared to more than 90% nationwide. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/NY_SS01.pdf

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The city is served by an extensive network of parkways and expressways, including four primary Interstate Highways enter the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area: I-78, I-80, I-87 and I-95. Interstate 287 serves as a partial beltway around the city, and there are numerous three-digit Interstates of I-78 and I-95.

Related Topics:
Interstate Highways - I-78 - I-80 - I-87 - I-95 - Interstate 287 - Beltway

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mass transit

New York City boasts the most extensive network of public transportation in the United States. The world famous New York City Subway is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). It is the most extensive subway system in the world when measured by mileage of track (656 miles of mainline track), and the fifth largest when measured by annual ridership (1.4 billion passenger trips in 2004). The subway system connects all boroughs except Staten Island, which is served by the Staten Island Railway via the free Staten Island Ferry (which connects to the 1 subway line). The city is also served by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's PATH subway system, which connects the borough of Manhattan to New Jersey. In addition to these, city residents rely on hundreds of bus lines, both publicly and privately operated (many to be taken over by the MTA sometime in 2005), which serve nearly all areas of the five boroughs. Because of the extensive mass transit system, many New Yorkers do not possess cars or even driver's licenses.

Related Topics:
New York City Subway - Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Subway - 2004 - Staten Island Railway - Staten Island Ferry - Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - PATH - New Jersey

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Responsibility for providing public transportation falls to a variety of government agencies and private corporations. Amtrak provides long-distance rail service. Short-distance rail, primarily for commuters from the suburbs, is operated by New Jersey Transit, the MTA (serving Long Island, Connecticut and regions in New York north of the city as the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad), and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which also operates regional bus terminals.

Related Topics:
Amtrak - New Jersey Transit - MTA - Long Island Rail Road - Metro-North Railroad - Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airports

The Port Authority also owns and operates the four major airports in the New York City area, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Jamaica, Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, La Guardia Airport in Flushing, and Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, New Jersey. JFK tends to handle international traffic, whereas La Guardia tends to handle shorter domestic flights, and Newark handles both international and domestic; Teterboro is New York's primary general aviation airport, handling heavy business jet traffic together with cargo and medevac flights and some light plane traffic. The first airport in the city was Floyd Bennett Field, now closed as an airport and today part of Gateway National Recreation Area. The Port Authority also operates the AirTrain service, a train which connects the JFK and Newark airports to local subway and heavy rail systems.

Related Topics:
Airport - John F. Kennedy International Airport - Jamaica - Newark Liberty International Airport - Newark, New Jersey - La Guardia Airport - Flushing - Teterboro Airport - Teterboro, New Jersey - General aviation - Medevac - Floyd Bennett Field - Gateway National Recreation Area - AirTrain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taxis

Taxicabs are operated by private companies and licensed by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission. There are two officially recognized car services in the city. "Medallion taxis," the familiar yellow cabs, are legally permitted to pick up passengers hailing them on the street. The T&LC also regulates and licenses "car services," which are legally permitted to pick up only those customers who have called the car service's dispatcher and requested a car, although most of these pick up hailing passengers as well. Car services that are independently owned, and will solicit passengers on the street, are known in New York City lingo as "Gypsy Cabs".

Related Topics:
Taxicab - New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission - Car service

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ferries

Many private ferries are run by NY Waterway, which provides several lines across the Hudson River, New York Water Taxi, with lines connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan, and other operators. There is also the free Staten Island Ferry between Manhattan and Staten Island, operated by the New York City Department of Transportation.

Related Topics:
Ferries - NY Waterway - Hudson River - New York Water Taxi - Staten Island Ferry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~