NYC to study hybrid work’s impact on transport, economy

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — New York City is set to conduct a study on the effects of hybrid work arrangements on transport and the economy, highlighting the lasting changes in commuting patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study, funded federally, will be managed by the city’s planning department, which aims to decode human mobility trends by leveraging cellular data.
“Using cellular mobility datasets, this project seeks to better understand current and future work-related and non-work travel behavior,” reads a description of the plan outlined in a 2023-24 budget report.
The project, allocated a budget of $501,789, has enlisted Placer Labs, which analyzes foot traffic in 800 office buildings countrywide, with a contract worth $99,000. The project seeks to guide decisions regarding the region’s transport network and economic development strategy in light of the trend toward remote work.