New York City’s transit system, the largest in the nation, faces billions in losses as the coronavirus outbreak and lockdowns continue to impact every mode of transportation—subway, buses, commuter rail, and ferries. Now, as more people return to work and school, no one knows if they’ll resume using the mass transit system or if they’ll seek alternative transportation.
Because of this, researchers at Columbia's Data Science Institute are conducting a survey on how COVID-19 has changed commuting patterns in the New York metropolitan area. The survey is open to all and takes about 10 minutes to complete.
The survey asks which kinds of transportation people use, how they use it, and how the coronavirus changed their commuting choices. The responses will help Sharon Di, an assistant professor of civil engineering and engineering mechanics who leads the research group, and her team understand the short-term and long-term impact of the pandemic on travel trends, develop results-oriented approaches, and provide insights to planners that will enhance the resilience of transportation systems in metropolitan New York.
