Between 2009 and 2012, the percentage of occupied housing units with no vehicles available increased in counties across the tri-state region. A TSTC analysis of 2010-2012 American Community Survey (ACS) estimates of vehicle availability for occupied housing units for the 41 Connecticut, New Jersey and downstate New York counties with the same estimates from 2007-2009, found that over one third of these counties saw an increase in zero-car households.

Of the 14 counties that experienced a statistically significant difference between the 2007-2009 and 2010-2012 data, almost all saw an increase in the percentage of occupied housing units without vehicles available. The percent changes ranged from 2.3 percent (Manhattan, where units without vehicles increased from 77 percent of occupied housing units to 78.8 percent) to 47.1 percent (Putnam County, where occupied housing units without vehicles available increased from 3.4 percent to 5 percent). Only two of the 14 counties saw a decrease in the percentage of zero-car households: New Jersey’s Hudson and Sussex Counties.

These findings bolster previously highlighted studies of trends in declining vehicle ownership and vehicle miles driven. And a June 2013 paper by Michael Sivak of the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, finds that even though the total number of vehicles may not have peaked,

“the rates of vehicles per person, licensed driver, and household reached their maxima prior to the onset of the current economic downturn… consequently, it is likely that the declines in these rates… reflect other societal changes that influence the need for vehicles (e.g., increases in telecommuting and in the use of public transportation).”

The cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle also warrants mentioning. There are many reasons why a household may not own a vehicle — by choice or otherwise.

In addition, U.S. PIRG’s May 2013 report, “A New Direction: Our Changing Relationship with Driving and the Implications for America’s Future,” argues “that under any reasonable scenario, the number of miles driven annually will be far fewer in the future than if Baby Boom trends had continued.”

Unfortunately, recent regional long range plans may not be reflecting the breadth of declining automobile ownership and vehicle miles traveled. With this additional data showing this shift well-underway in counties across the tri-state region, elected officials must do more to support policies that make it easier for residents to get around without cars. This means realigning priorities away from building more roads, and instead, focusing on investing in projects such as bus rapid transit, expansion of bike share and the implementation of complete streets.