NYC Gridlock
NYC Dept of Transportation
NYC Gridlock
New Yorkers should prepare for some of Manhattan’s most challenging traffic conditions beginning September 21, when the United Nations General Assembly brings heightened security, street closures and increased congestion to Midtown. NYC DOT has designated 20 Gridlock Alert Days through December, covering the five-day UN gathering as well as heavily traveled dates during the holiday season. Traffic around Midtown can become especially slow during UN General Assembly week, making subway, bus, rail, ferry, cycling and walking options more practical for many trips. The remaining alert dates are concentrated in November and December, when holiday events, tourism and seasonal activity add pressure to Manhattan streets. Motorists traveling into or through the area should anticipate delays and consider alternative transportation.
NYC DOT Announces ‘Gridlock Alert’ Days, Beginning With United Nations General Assembly on September 21 and Through the Holiday Season
Agency Encourages New Yorkers To Use Alternate Forms of Transportation, Especially on These Days
Midtown Traffic Speeds Are the Slowest of the Year During the U.N. General Assembly, With Average Speeds in Midtown Under Four Miles per Hour
New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today released a list of Gridlock Alert Days through the end of the year, including the week of the United Nations General Assembly (September 21 to September 25). Drivers should expect extensive street closures and delays across Manhattan for the duration of that week. NYC DOT strongly encourages New Yorkers and visitors to use non-driving modes of transportation, especially on these days. New Yorkers can choose from a variety of available transportation options including regional rail lines, the 24/7 metropolitan subway and bus system, ferries, cycling, and walking.
“The first 20 months of Congestion Pricing continue to reduce vehicles entering the city’s urban core, and we expect this to continue - especially on Gridlock Alert Days,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “New York City always welcomes the UN General Assembly with open arms, but we encourage the public to seek non-driving modes of transportation that week, on the remaining 15 Gridlock Alert Days, and year-round.”
Gridlock Alert Days: NYC DOT has identified 20 Gridlock Alert Days through the end of the year – the days when traffic is expected to be at its slowest and most congested. NYC DOT traffic data shows that average motor vehicle speeds in Midtown during U.N. General Assembly week are historically their slowest of the year: less than four miles per hour, whereas Midtown traffic normally averages between four and six miles per hour. Variable Message System boards around New York City will be posted to warn motorists of expected delays. Tourist and holiday activities also contribute to heightened traffic.
Bicycle and Bus Access: Based on the success of the temporary bike lane through the tunnel for UNGA over the past six years, NYC DOT completed the permanent First Avenue Tunnel protected bike lane in 2024. This critical upgrade enhances safety for cyclists by providing a jersey barrier-protected express lane bypassing busy intersections around the United Nations headquarters and is the first tunnel in the United States to be repurposed for bike traffic while maintaining vehicle traffic. The protected bike lane also calms traffic by organizing vehicle traffic in the tunnel as well as on the street above.
NYC DOT continues to upgrade the bus network in Manhattan and widen bike lanes to offer more enhanced modes of alternative transportation throughout the borough. Earlier this year, NYC DOT announced the completion of bike lane network upgrades for NoHo, the East Village, Sixth Avenue, and Union Square, redesigned Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, and also completed bus lane projects along Madison and Lexington avenues. The agency also announced plans in May to install Green Wave signal timing along segments of First Avenue, Second Avenue, Hudson Street, and Eighth Avenue.
2026 Gridlock Alert Days are:
- Monday, September 21
- Tuesday, September 22
- Wednesday, September 23
- Thursday, September 24
- Friday, September 25
- Wednesday, November 18
- Thursday, November 19
- Tuesday, November 24
- Wednesday, December 2
- Thursday, December 3
- Friday, December 4
- Tuesday, December 8
- Wednesday, December 9
- Thursday, December 10
- Friday, December 11
- Tuesday, December 15
- Wednesday, December 16
- Thursday, December 17
- Friday, December 18
- Wednesday, December 23
Source: Submitted by NYC Dept of Transportation
