United States
New York
UMR Index Rank
#8
(+4)
Score: 65%
Sustainable Mobility
#27
(=)
Score: 56.9%
Public Transit
#11
(+7)
Score: 62.2%
Technology Adoption
#8
Score: 58.5%
| Population | 20.2 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 9,469 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 2,135 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 123,032 |
UMR Index Rank
#8
(+4)
Score: 65%
Sustainable Mobility
#27
(=)
Score: 56.9%
Public Transit
#11
(+7)
Score: 62.2%
Technology Adoption
#8
Score: 58.5%
What New York Does Well In Urban Mobility
New York takes eighth place in this year’s Urban Mobility Readiness Index thanks to a strong multimodal network, with a wide variety of public transportation options including metro, bus, rail, tram, and ferry. The city boasts park-and-ride infrastructure and allows bikes on public transit. New York is also investing in transit system improvements. In September 2024 the governing Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) proposed that more than 90% of its $68 billion capital spending plan for 2025 to 2029 should go to renovations and improvements of the network. The plan includes purchasing 2,000 new railcars, making more than 60 stations accessible for people with disabilities, and implementing modern fare gates at 150 stations.
The city is preparing for the adoption of future mobility solutions by investing in public-private partnerships that focus on making New York a hub for urban innovation. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, an interstate transit operator, in 2023 announced an agreement with NASA, the federal space agency, to collaborate on research and planning for urban air mobility flights. Several private urban air mobility providers have announced plans to start service in the New York area in the next few years, with some companies claiming that commercial start dates could occur in 2025, pending FAA certification.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For New York’s Transportation System
While New York is making significant investment in the future of urban air mobility, it lags in other technologies, like autonomous technologies and zero-emission buses. Tests were conducted for autonomous passenger shuttles at New York’s JFK Airport in 2023, but widespread adoption is still pending. New York lags behind cities like Dubai, Sydney, Jakarta, and Mumbai in the adoption of autonomous transit vehicles. Zero-emission bus use is also much lower than in other top- performing cities, with less than 1% of New York’s bus fleet running on hydrogen or electric batteries. The city has taken modest steps to increase electric vehicle (EV) charging station density and announced plans to build public charging stations for 65 vehicles near JFK Airport in 2025, including 12 rapid charging stations.
Transport safety is another area where New York could do better. The city has been working to address safety concerns, with the MTA installing thousands of cameras inside railcars. In 2024 a controversial pilot for the use of automatic gun scanners at access gates was launched. The city is installing barriers on platforms to prevent people from being pushed or falling onto the tracks. While an improvement, the rollout of this initiative is currently limited to a handful of stations.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How New York Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
While New York is home to a strong public transit system, some residents have long distances to cover to reach stations. To improve station density, increase connectivity, and encourage ridership, the city can add bus routes and stops to help connect residents with the subway lines that service their areas — a cost-effective strategy. Adding new subway stations and lines will be essential to improving public transit station density. Some efforts are already underway, such as expanding the Q line into East Harlem and Harlem. If approved, long-delayed congestion pricing for Manhattan can help finance the improvements.
New York’s EV market share in sales rose from 2023 to 2024, but the city still lags behind top-performing cities. Likewise, the density of its charging station network remains lower than those of top cities. New York already has several incentive programs in place to expand the network, but can accelerate further. Another step toward cleaner transport systems would be to expand the city’s zero-emission bus fleet. New York state has committed to 100% electric school buses by 2035, and New York City can follow with its city buses.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley