Absorbing Growth

If you have a robust transit system, it can absorb new travel.

Transportation officials say a new study shows a surprising trend: As New York City's population and job base grew during the recent boom, traffic didn't.

Instead, a report due for release Monday finds the transit system absorbed the influx of residents and commuters between 2003 and 2007.

City deputy transportation commissioner Bruce Schaller says that's a first for at least the years since World War II. Schaller wrote the study. He says improvements to the subway, bus and commuter rail network helped it handle the demand from 130,000 new residents and 200,000 more jobs.