2018 New York City gridlock alert days | U.N. street closures

New York City is finally officially acknowledging what many locals already knew: that the city has many more than just 10 so-called gridlock alert days.

City officials increased the number of gridlock alert days to 16 for 2018, beginning on September 24. Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said the city is adding six days related to the U.N. General Assembly when heads of state and many other dignitaries will be in town. NOTE: SCROLL DOWN FOR A LIST OF U.N.-RELATED CLOSURES.

A gridlock alert day is used to describe those days when an influx of additional vehicles adds to the already heavy traffic on Manhattan streets. Former DOT Commissioner "Gridlock Sam" Schwartz coined the term in the 1980s to describe the 10 most congested days in the city.

"A reporter said, 'What are you going to do with them?'" Schwartz told Fox 5. "And I thought quickly on my feet: 'I'll make them gridlock alert days to alert the public they shouldn't drive on those days."

Schwartz used data that determined 7 mph was the average speed of cars on gridlock alert days. However, now between ride-sharing services and increased biking, the DOT estimates the average speed of cars is around 4 mph.

The city has also started an aggressive initiative on social media aimed at drivers.

"Facebook, Twitter et cetera—you really can now run campaigns and get the word out a lot earlier and really make sure you're sort of saturating people's consciousness," Trottenberg said, "and get them to change their behaviors."

Other U.S. cities have adopted "gridlock days" to describe their own dramatic traffic influxes.

Schwartz believes New York's DOT should add a few more.

"Such as around Labor Day or around the Memorial Day weekend—at least an alert for those people trying to get out of town," Gridlock Sam said. "The alerts work."

2018 GRIDLOCK ALERT DAYS

"On these Gridlock Alert days, you should consider walking, biking, or taking mass transit for any trips in Manhattan." –DOT

  • Monday, September 24
  • Tuesday, September 25
  • Wednesday, September 26
  • Thursday, September 27
  • Friday, September 28
  • Monday, October 1
  • Friday, November 16
  • Wednesday, November 21
  • Wednesday, November 28
  • Friday, December 7
  • Wednesday, December 12
  • Thursday, December 13
  • Friday, December 14
  • Wednesday, December 19
  • Thursday, December 20
  • Friday, December 21

STREET CLOSURES RELATED TO THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sunday, Sept. 23

The following streets will close at 10 p.m.:

First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open to passenger cars only)

44th Street from First to Second avenues

45th Street from First to Second avenues

46th Street from First to Second avenues

FDR Drive will be subject to intermittent closures:

Southbound at 63rd Street

Northbound at South Ferry

The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:

Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place

First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place

50th Street from Park to Madison avenues

51st  Street from Park to Madison avenues

55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues

55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

58th Street from Park to Madison avenues

Monday, Sept. 24

These streets will remain closed for the day:

First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open to passenger cars only)

44th Street from First to Second avenues

45th Street from First to Second avenues

46th Street from First to Second avenues

One traffic lane on the following streets will be dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues

57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues

Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets

These streets will be closed between 5 a.m. and about 9 p.m.

42nd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue

42nd Street exit and entrance ramps for FDR Drive

The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:

Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place

First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place

50th Street from Park to Madison avenues

51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues

51st Street from Park to Madison avenues

55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues

55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

58th Street from Park to Madison avenues

58th Street from Plaza to Sixth Avenue

Tuesday, Sept. 25

These streets will remain closed for the day:

First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open to passenger cars only)

44th Street from First to Second avenues

45th Street from First to Second avenues

46th Street from First to Second avenues

49th Street from Third to Lexington avenues

One traffic lane on the following streets will be dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues

57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues

Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets

These streets will be closed between 5 a.m. and about 9 p.m.

42nd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue

42nd Street exit and entrance ramps for FDR Drive

The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:

Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place

First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place

50th Street from Park to Madison avenues

51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues

51st Street from Park to Madison avenues

55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues

55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

58th Street from Park to Madison avenues

58th Street from Plaza to Sixth Avenue

61st Street from Lexington to Park avenues

61st Street from Park to Madison avenues

61st Street from Madison to Fifth avenues

Wednesday, Sept. 26

These streets will remain closed for the day:

First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48th Street will remain open to passenger cars only)

44th Street from First to Second avenues

45th Street from First to Second avenues

46th Street from First to Second avenues

One traffic lane on the following streets will be dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues

57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues

Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets

These streets will be closed between 5 a.m. and about 9 p.m.

42nd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue

42nd Street exit and entrance ramps for FDR Drive

The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:

Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place

First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place

51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues

50th Street from Park to Madison avenues

51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues

51st Street from Park to Madison avenues

55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues

55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

58th Street from Park to Madison avenues

58th Street from Plaza to Sixth Avenue

61st Street from Lexington to Park avenues

61st Street from Park to Madison avenues

61st Street from Madison to Fifth avenues

Thursday, Sept. 27

These streets will remain closed for the day:

First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open to passenger cars only)

44th Street from First to Second avenues

45th Street from First to Second avenues

46th Street from First to Second avenues

One traffic lane on the following streets will be dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues

57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues

Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets

These streets will be closed between 5 a.m. and about 9 p.m.

42nd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue

42nd Street exit and entrance ramps for FDR Drive

FDR Drive will be subject to intermittent closures:

Southbound at 63rd Street

Northbound at South Ferry

The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:

Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place

First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place

50th Street from Park to Madison avenues

51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues

51st Street from Park to Madison avenues

55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues

55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

58th Street from Park to Madison avenues

58th Street from Plaza to Sixth Avenue

61st Street from Lexington to Park avenues

61st Street from Park to Madison avenues

61st Street from Madison to Fifth avenues

Friday, Sept. 28

These streets will remain closed for the day:

First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48th Street will remain open to passenger cars only)

44th Street from First to Second avenues

45th Street from First to Second avenues

46th Street from First to Second avenues

One traffic lane on the following streets will be dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues

57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues

Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets

These streets will be closed between 5 a.m. and about 9 p.m.

42nd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue

42nd Street exit and entrance ramps for FDR Drive

The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:

Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place

First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place

50th Street from Park to Madison avenues

51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues

51st Street from Park to Madison avenues

55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues

55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues

58th Street from Park to Madison avenues

58th Street from Plaza to Sixth Avenue

61st Street from Lexington to Park avenues

61st Street from Park to Madison avenues

61st Street from Madison to Fifth avenues