DEP Invoice or Financial Record, September 30, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

1 i+y Police win staff checkpoints to Greg Butler, a 49-year-old tele­ enforce the tough regulations, phone company worker from the tnayor said, Flatbush, BrooWyn, drove to his “You are going to have to turn Manhattan office yesterday near back if you are in a single-pas­ The car-pooling requirement the BrooklynBridge. senger vehicle,” Giuliani said. was praised by several former His commute used to take 30 “You have to have another per­ city transportation commission­ minutes. Tuesday’s trek re­ son in your car — you can’t ers and mass transit advocates. quired two-and-a-half hours and come in by yourself. It’s in re­ “There are many thousands of an hour yesterday. sponse to the terrible traffic con­ people who put American flags “TuesdayU lost my mind, and ditions we have coming over the on their cars to express their today I feel like I got it back,” he bridges.” concern about the city and the said. “The traffic was a lot bet­ “Let’s try it for a couple of nation,” Straphangers Cam­ ter.” days,” the mayor said. “We’ll all paign staff attorney Gene Rus- work together. If it has a big im­ sianoffsaid. pact on traffic, then we’ll contin­ “Now these drivers can do ue it. If it doesn’t have the im­ their part by putting passengers pact we think it will, and it’s just in their vehides and reducing horrendous congestion. We inconveniencing people, then need to get, the dty moving we won’t.” again and this car-pool require­ Today’s traffic alreadywas ex­ ment is a smart way to do it.” pected to be lighter because of But with mandatory car pools the Jewish holiday of Yom Kip- looming. New Yorkers scram­ bled to make plans. Traffic hasground1 to a halt in Esha Stewart, 26, of Brooklyn, the aftermath of the World a Verizon customer-service rep­ Trade Center attack, with delays resentative, said she is scared to at their worst on Tuesday. The take the subway, fearing anoth­ recovery efforts in lower Man­ er terrorist attack. hattan, as well as security check- “I’m looking for co-workers to points,--.Jimited access below car pool with me tomorrow,” she Canal St. and partial closures of said. “If not, Twill take the sub­ river crossings and roadways way, but I really don’t want to.” have generated the traffic head­ Mandatory car pooling on aches. some highways — requiring three passengers per vehide — “With so many dosures. con­ was ordered by Mayor Ed Koch struction and security check­ during the 1980 transit strike, points in place, [car pooling] greatly improving the flow of will ease gridlock, reduce traffic traffic, said former deputy trans- volume into the dty and pro­ portation commissioner Sam mote utilization of mass transit,” Schwartz, who writes the Daily Transportation Commissioner News’ Gridlock Sam colunm. Iris Weinshall said. “It was very successful,” “I have to urge everyone as Schwartz said. “It reduced traf­ strong as I can to take public fic volume tremendously.” transportation,” tire mayor said. He predicted commuters will “You’re going to get into Manhat­ gather today at the foot of cross­ tan much easier and going to get ings looking for rides. “Hitchhik­ out of Manhattan a lot easier.” ing win become the norm in Most subway service outside New York City,” he said. the immediate World Trade Cen­ ter area has been restored; offi- dals yesterday reopened anoth­ er station: the Chambers St. stop of the Nos. 1 and 2 trains.

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