How do transit travel times compare to auto commute times?
This analysis includes not only rail access but also bus and ferry modes, which account for 12% and 1% respectively of CBD commutes, and rail commuters who take a bus to access a rail station. For an apples-to-apples comparison of auto and transit commute times, the analysis took account of place of work within the CBD. For subway travel, the CBD was divided into Midtown and Downtown zones, reflecting the longer or shorter travel time to each area depending on one’s point of origin. For rail commuters, the CBD was divided into zones for census tracts within walking distance of Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal; for other parts of Midtown; and for Downtown. Also, for both city and suburban commuters, a separate zone was constructed near the Hudson and East River waterfronts to capture the greater transit travel times to these areas, which are remote from the subway. For place of residence, public use microdata areas (PUMA) were used instead of census tracts in order to maintain an
