Wednesday, May 4, 2011

New York State Dept. of Transportation's Traffic Study Based on Flawed Data

Last spring, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) presented the computerized model they used to compare the potential impact on existing streets and roadways of keeping the Sheridan Expressway versus removing it. NYSDOT concluded that their model showed an increase in traffic if the Sheridan Expressway was removed. However, an independed technical consultant, Smart Mobility, hired by the Southern Bronx River Watershed Alliance found NYSDOT's modeling to be flawed and to contain many errors.

Smart Mobility found the following problems with NYSDOT's model:

  • the model contains factual errors such as incorrect traffic counts
  • their numbers are flawed since htey assume that traffic will increase city-wide by 2030 to levers that are impossible within the limits of street space, and that are unlikely due to declining driving trends
  • they overestimate truck volumes by as much as 110%
  • NYSDOT's model is not designed to measure local traffic impacts

Independent experts agree - NYSDOT's model has too many flaws to determine the Sheridan's future!

Please read the full report here: New York State Dept. of Transportation's Traffic Study Based on Flawed Data