New York City Traffic Is Horrendous. There’s No Relief in Sight.

In the battle of man vs. machine, man is rapidly catching up in the car-jammed streets at the heart of New York City.

As state and local officials are battling over a ditched plan to unclog Manhattan’s sclerotic arteries, the average travel speed in Midtown fell to 4.5 miles an hour in May, the lowest ever recorded for the month, said Sam Schwartz, a former New York City Department of Transportation official who has tracked traffic trends in the metropolis since the 1970s. It was the fifth straight record month this year, with 2024 shaping up to be the worst on record for Midtown Manhattan traffic.

“We are approaching walking speeds,” Schwartz said.