New York City Planners Consider Transportation and Economic Implications for Hybrid Operations

Metro

Exclusive

To Karl Campanile

May 28, 2023 | 4:06 PM

New York City has announced a radical new look at the impact of hybrid work on transportation and the economy, following the “long-term shift” in travel patterns initially caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We plan to conduct a survey.

The federally funded study, conducted by the City Planning Office, used a series of data points provided by mobile phones used in office buildings and elsewhere to better understand how people move. I plan to analyze it.

“This project aims to establish a better understanding of current and future work-related and non-work travel behavior using mobile phone mobility datasets,” drafted by regional authorities 2023. It is written in the description of the plan outlined in the FY2012 budget report. New York City Transportation Council.

“Using mobile phone data, we have the opportunity to understand travel behavior, economic activity, pedestrians and important movement patterns with more accurate location and time information compared to previously accessible data. It will be possible.”

The draft report says that a “comprehensive analysis” of the shift to remote work is needed to “guide future decisions on regional transportation networks and economic growth strategies.”

Project funding is set at $501,789.

The agency just signed a $99,000 contract with Placer Labs Inc. to provide some of the data.

Placer analyzes foot traffic for 800 office buildings nationwide.

The transportation bureau will also conduct a related analysis on the “long-term impact of telework” on vehicle mileage driven by drivers during the working day.

During the pandemic, a DOT survey found that nearly half of the working population is working from home.

The DOT’s new study builds on that research and looks at people living in “low-density areas of New York City,” such as suburban areas with single-family homes and two-family homes.

Trends show that hybrid work schedules, where people work in the office and work from home, will continue.

Midweek subway ridership was still only 70% of pre-virus levels, according to the MTA.

A report released in February said Manhattan-based workers are spending at least $12.4 billion less annually than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic.

This change resulted in a significant decrease in city tax revenue.

For owners of commercial office space, the prognosis is particularly worrying.

An industry report released last week found that the impact of hybrid work could reduce the value of office buildings by 44%, with fewer workers living in them.

City contractor Placer said in a recent blog post that hybrid work structures will continue to take hold.

They claim that Manhattan office visits in the first quarter of 2023 were down 37.5% compared to pre-pandemic 2019.

“The month-over-month data also shows that the average number of office visits per workday has not changed much over the past few months,” Placer’s Lila Margarit said in a blog post.

“As we noted, the continuation of this pattern appears to reflect a new hybrid normal, with fewer employees coming into the office and more mid-week visits. It seems to indicate

“The traffic data shows the continued strength of the hybrid model,” Margarit said, adding that the push to return to the office “does not yet appear to have resulted in meaningful change overall.” Stated.

“Looking to the future, Margarit said, hybrid ways of working, offering the best of both worlds, may continue.

A spokesperson for the Department of Urban Planning said the work-from-home investigation was consistent with ongoing research into the changes taking place in the Big Apple.

“Broadly speaking, we are constantly monitoring work and commute patterns to strengthen our planning efforts. No immediate policy changes are planned,” said DCP spokesperson Casey Berkowitz. said Mr.

One business advocate representing one of the city’s biggest businesses and financial firms argued that the days of office work are far from over.

“New York City is filled with ambitious people who recognize the importance of meeting in person to advance professionally and build relationships. or hybrid work. Office culture will continue to be important,” said New York City Partnerships CEO Kathryn Wilde.