Whether going crosstown, uptown, or out of town, drivers will find maneuvering in and around New York City much easier with this one-of-a-kind guide filled with detailed directions, shortcuts, and escape routes designed to ease even the worst traffic headaches. 72 color maps.
Samuel I. Schwartz, also known as Gridlock Sam, has been a transportation professional for four decades counting a three-year stint as a New York City cab driver. He started out as a physicist receiving a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Brooklyn College. He went on to graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania and received a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with a focus on transportation systems.
In 1971, Mr. Schwartz started his engineering career as a junior engineer with the New York City Department of Transportation. In 1980, Mr. Schwartz became the chief architect of the plan to run the city during a full transit strike of subways, buses and rail. The program was so successful during the eleven-day stoppage, that many of Mr. Schwartz's plans were adopted post-strike. It was during the transit strike of 1980 that Mr. Schwartz coined the term 'gridlock.'
In 1982, he was appointed New York City Traffic Commissioner, serving under the guidance of then Mayor Ed Koch. His responsibilities included traffic engineering, enforcement operations and planning. In 1986, Mr. Schwartz was promoted to Chief Engineer and First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. During this time, Mr. Schwartz became known as the man who saved the Williamsburg Bridge. The bridge, a rail and highway crossing between Brooklyn and Manhattan, was crumbling and had to be shut due to corrosion for three months to repair dangerous conditions.
Mr. Schwartz left city government in 1990 and worked for five years as a Senior Vice President at Hayden Wegman Consulting Engineers. At the same time, he began to write the Gridlock Sam column in the New York Daily News.
In 1995 Mr. Schwartz founded his own firm which evolved over the years into Sam Schwartz Engineering, (SSE). He currently serves as President and CEO of SSE, a multi-disciplinary consulting firm specializing in traffic and transportation engineering.
Public officials frequently call on Mr. Schwartz for his sage advice. He was invited to the White House to discuss the 511 program with Vice President Al Gore. During Mayor Bloomberg's first run for office, Sam was his transportation advisor. Mr. Schwartz also led the forensic teams investigating the I35 bridge collapse in Minnesota.
Mr. Schwartz is a Visiting Scholar at the Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management at New York University and a member of the New York Transportation Journal Editorial Board. For 25 years he has also been an adjunct professor at Cooper Union and Long Island University. He is a volunteer teacher at New York City High Schools and founded a public school- "The School for the Physical City." He has authored more than 200 professional papers and presentations and has written several books and chapters in books including: Traffic Shortcuts and Tips, A Toolbox for Traffic Safety, Understanding Infrastructure, Traffic Conundrums and Parking Rules Explained.
Mr. Schwartz is an expert in the field of transportation engineering and traffic safety. He has received a score of awards for his work including NY State Society of Professional Engineers, Engineer of the Year, 2009 Zweig White Best Firms, Crain's NY Business Top Entrepreneurs, ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards for Greenlink Windsor, Greater Gansevoort, Prudential Center and Ikea, 2008 Crain's New York Best Places to Work in New York City, 2008 Trendsetter by Public Works Magazine, Civil Engineer of the Year from the American Society of Civil Engineers, The American Council of Engineering Companies Engineer of the Year Award, Engineering Excellence Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York, Bridge Engineer of the Year, Transportation Engineer of the Year, Sage Award from the American Engineering Alliance, Transportation Paper of the Year Award, Volvo Traffic Safety Award for his safety unit at NYC DOT, Outstanding Contributions to Women In Government, Women's Transportation Seminar Employer of the Year and Public Service Award.
