Depth study two

Question 1

Define affordable housing

Answer 1

The New York City Housing Authority defines affordable housing as housing that costs roughly one-third or less of a household’s income and is regulated so that the rent cannot increase drastically over time.

Question 2

Scope of housing challenge

Answer 2

As the population of New York City continues to grow, so does the demand for housing, making it increasingly unaffordable, particularly for more vulnerable residents.

Including the elderly, extremely low- to moderate-income households, some immigrants, and 17% in poverty.

Question 3

Causes of housing challenge

Answer 3

Many factors cause this challenge, including income inequality and a mismatch in supply and demand.

Mismatch between the available housing and their affordability.

Question 4

Gentrification in NYC

Causes of housing challenge - income inequality

Answer 4

Gentrification in New York City occurs when housing in older neighbourhoods, such as working-class neighbourhoods in East New York, is renovated by wealthier and mostly middle-income people.

Question 5

Result of gentrification in NYC

Causes of housing challenge - income inequality

Answer 5

This results in increased property values and rental prices as landlords find new residents willing to pay more, which prices low-income people out of the area.

Question 6

Super-gentrified and exclusionary neighbourhoods in NYC

Causes of housing challenge - income inequality

Answer 6

In 2016, The Urban Displacement Project found that there were 314 super-gentrified or exclusive neighbourhoods in the metropolitan region, creating a ring of very high-income communities around NYC.

Question 7

HVS low-income renters

Causes of housing challenge - mismatch in supply and demand

Answer 7

The New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS) found that low-income renters struggle to find affordable apartments, with many spending over half of their income on rent.

Question 8

HVS report on vacancy rate

Causes of housing challenge - mismatch in supply and demand

Answer 8

4.5% for all housing accommodations, skewed by high vacancy rates in expensive units. Units less than $1,500 a month (the median rent) below 1%, less than $900, 0.86%. Units over $2,300, 12.6%.

Question 9

Impacts of housing challenge

Answer 9

There are significant social and economic impacts of the housing challenge in New York City, including rent-burdened households and homelessness.

Question 10

Rent-burdened in 2021

Impacts of housing challenge

Answer 10

More than half of renters in the city were classified as rent-burdened, meaning they spent over 30% of their income towards rent, with one-third severely rent-burdened, spending more than half of their income.

Question 11

What do rent-burdened and low-income residents do?

Impacts of housing challenge

Answer 11

Compromise on housing quality and location or overextend themselves to manage. Some residents are forced to live in areas with less access to services and infrastructure or leave the city completely, while others moving into the area are deterred.

Question 12

Homelessness levels and economic impact

Impacts of housing challenge

Answer 12

Given this increasing burden of finding housing and paying rent, homelessness in New York City has reached the highest levels since the Great Depression, prompting the allocation of $2.4 billion to the Department of Homeless Services in 2022.

Question 13

How many people in shelter system

Impacts of housing challenge

Answer 13

In August of that year, an average of 55,000 people were sleeping in the city’s main public shelter system each night, with thousands more in other shelter systems or public spaces.

Question 14

Define transportation

Answer 14

Transportation is defined as the movement of people and goods from one place to another and the various means by which such movement is accomplished.

Question 15

Transportation offered in NYC

Answer 15

New York City offers various modes of transportation, including rapid transit systems (rail), buses, taxis, private and for-hire vehicles, rideshare apps, ferries, and bicycles.

Question 16

Scope of transportation challenge

Answer 16

The city’s transportation system is complex and extensive, covering the five boroughs, the tri-state area, and beyond. Each day, over 1 million people commute into the city, with approximately half of households relying on public transportation.

Question 17

Causes of transportation challenge

Answer 17

A major cause of the transportation challenge is ageing infrastructure, which affects multiple forms of transportation and growth of housing on the periphery of the city.

Question 18

NYC subway

Causes of transportation challenge - ageing infrastructure

Answer 18

Delivered 1.3 billion rides in 2021 compared to 150,000 the year it opened. Some sections over 100 years old, majority built before 1930, the system wasn’t designed to transport this many people.

Operational since 1904, has over 400 stations located throughout the boroughs (except Staten Island).

Question 19

Disrupted service and delays on affected lines of NYC subway

Causes of transportation challenge - ageing infrastructure

Answer 19

Throughout most of its history, it has operated continuously, meaning there is no time for routine cleaning and maintenance.

Question 20

Trains arriving on time in NYC subway

Causes of transportation challenge - ageing infrastructure

Answer 20

In 2021, only about 65% of weekday trains arrived on time.

Question 21

Mainline signals in NYC subway

Causes of transportation challenge - ageing infrastructure

Answer 21

Of the subway system’s 728 miles of mainline signals, 269 have exceeded their 50-year life expectancy. They also slow the movement of trains and require maintenance workers to build replacement parts as manufacturers no longer make them.

Question 22

As Manhattan’s housing becomes unaffordable?

Causes of transportation challenge - housing on periphery

Answer 22

Manhattan’s housing prices became increasingly unaffordable, many middle- to low-income residents had to move further away from the city where housing development had increased

Question 23

Car dependency in areas further from the city

Causes of transportation challenge - housing on periphery

Answer 23

As these areas are further away from the city and have less access to public transport, there is a higher dependency on cars.

Question 24

NYC DOT car ownership in outer boroughs

Causes of transportation challenge - housing on periphery

Answer 24

In 2019, the New York City Department of Transportation reported that car ownership in the outer boroughs increased by nearly 11% over the past decade, which coincides with the significant housing development in these areas.

Question 25

Impacts of transportation challenge

Answer 25

There are significant social and economic impacts of the transportation challenge in New York City, including traffic congestion and the resulting accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists, as well as increasing expenses and associated costs.

Question 26

Motor vehicle accidents in 2021

Impacts of transportation challenge

Answer 26

In 2021, there were over 220,000 motor vehicle accidents in the city. In the same year, there were almost twice as many pedestrian accidents in December as in July, likely due to the heightened traffic during the holiday season.

Question 27

Economic impact on people commuting regularly

Impacts of transportation challenge

Answer 27

For people commuting regularly into the city, sitting in traffic leads to higher running costs, placing financial pressure on individuals and families, especially as fuel prices continue to rise.

Question 28

Fuel price in 2022

Impacts of transportation challenge

Answer 28

During 2022, the average cost of fuel in New York City was $1.95 per litre, compared to Australia at $1.62 per litre.

Question 29

Environmental impacts of transportation challenge

Impacts of transportation challenge

Slow-moving traffic and idling cars contributed to air pollution example

Answer 29

Slow-moving traffic and idling cars have contributed to a 9% increase in traffic-related air pollution from 1990 to 2019, even when adjusted for population growth.

Question 30

Define sustainability

Answer 30

Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of current and future generations through simultaneous environmental, social, and economic adaptation and improvement.

Question 31

Strategy that aims to address this challenge of transportation

Answer 31

NYC Department of Transportation’s Carshare Program

Question 32

NYC DOT Carshare Program aim

Answer 32

Reduce the number of private cars on the road and provide cost-effective shared mobility options across the city.

Question 33

What is car sharing?

Answer 33

Car sharing allows people to rent vehicles for short periods, from a few minutes to multiple days, with fuel costs and insurance included in the price.

Question 34

No responsibility of private car ownership - car sharing

Answer 34

Therefore, individuals have access to a range of cars without the costs and responsibilities of private car ownership, helping to reduce congestion, traffic, and their impacts in New York City.

Question 35

Socially, car share program

Social evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 35

Socially, the program has provided improved and accessible transportation for many in New York City, particularly in areas lacking access to other forms of transport, known as transit deserts.

Question 36

Car sharing on transit deserts

Social evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 36

These areas, predominantly low-income neighbourhoods and communities of colour, now have a more accessible, affordable, sustainable, and greener travel option.

Question 37

Car sharing on connectedness to the city

Social evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 37

The DOT has ensured equitable distribution of carshare services in these underserved areas across all boroughs, which helps to increase their connectedness to the rest of the city.

Question 38

Socially, people selling their cars example

Social evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 38

Since the program began, 7% of participants have opted to sell their cars or delayed purchasing one due to the availability of car sharing options.

Question 39

Drawback of socially

Social evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 39

However, despite these benefits, approximately 45% of those living in New York still prefer private car ownership due to convenience, privacy, and safety.

Question 40

Economically, car share

Economic evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 40

Economically, the program has significantly reduced transportation-related costs, making it a financially sustainable option for individuals and families.

Question 41

What has the availability of car sharing reduced economically?

Economic evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 41

The availability of car sharing has reduced costs associated with car ownership such as registration, insurance, maintenance, and fuel.

Question 42

2019 study by International Transport Forum

Economic evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 42

A 2019 study by the International Transport Forum found that car sharing can reduce household transportation costs by up to 50% when compared to owning a car.

Question 43

Economically, municipalities

Economic evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 43

Municipalities also save on road maintenance and parking infrastructure as less traffic and congestion is contributing to wear on roads.

Question 44

Economic opportunities car sharing

Economic evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 44

Car sharing creates new income opportunities for vehicle owners through platforms like Turo and HyreCar, allowing them to rent out their vehicles.

Question 45

Economic concerns about car sharing

Economic evaluation of NYC DOT Carshare Program

Answer 45

However, there are concerns that a reduction in private vehicle numbers could lead to decreased revenue and potentially impact the city’s budget for maintaining and improving transportation infrastructure

Question 46

Environmentally, car share

Answer 46

Environmentally, the program has effectively reduced the number of private vehicles in New York City, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 47

What did NYC DOT report about neighbourhoods with carsharing

Answer 47

The NYC DOT reported that in neighbourhoods with carshare services, there was a 7% reduction in vehicle miles travelled per capita, which contributed to a decrease in local traffic congestion and emissions.

Question 48

How do fewer cars on the road positively impact environment

Answer 48

Fewer cars on the road have also positively impacted local environments by minimising the risk of land and soil pollution from leaked fluids from vehicles.

Question 49

How could environmental benefits be counteracted

Answer 49

If many people begin to substitute other forms of public transport for car sharing for convenience. Lead to more vehicles being provided and therefore increased emissions

It should be ensured that car sharing complements, rather than replaces, public transportation.