This winter, New York City has been hit hard by relentless snowstorms and prolonged extreme low temperatures, severely impacting the city’s infrastructure. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has reported a significant increase in complaints about malfunctioning traffic signals, indicating that the harsh weather is putting pressure on the city’s transportation system.
According to the statistics from the DOT, there have been 15,543 complaints about traffic signal malfunctions so far this year, a 42% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The main reason behind these issues is largely attributed to a massive snowstorm last month, during which parts of New York saw as much as 24 inches of snowfall.
Mona Bruno, a spokesperson for the DOT, stated that the snowstorm caused widespread power outages across the city, affecting the operation of traffic signals. Many complaints described signals continuously flashing yellow, often due to voltage fluctuations caused by unstable electricity, possibly related to melted snow seeping into underground cables.
Additionally, the extensive power outages in homes following the snowstorm last month are also related to the corrosion of underground cables from road de-icing salt. Officials also mentioned that fallen trees during the snowstorm damaged some signal equipment.
Currently, New York City has approximately 13,500 signalized intersections, but only a small portion of them are equipped with backup batteries to keep them running during power outages.
Studies show that malfunctioning signals have a significant impact on traffic safety. A study from 2007 found that the probability of injuries nearly doubled at “dark intersections” without functioning traffic signals during accidents.
Experts advise that when traffic signals enter malfunction protection mode and the yellow light flashes, drivers should reduce speed and proceed with caution. A flashing red light should be treated as a “stop sign,” requiring drivers to come to a complete stop before proceeding.
In addition to traffic signal issues, the inclement weather has also led to an increase in complaints about potholes in New York City roads. There have been 13,649 road condition complaints so far this year.
The transportation department stated that road damage typically increases after harsh winters. In recent years, the department has been repairing an average of about 170,000 potholes annually.
Officials have mentioned that as the weather gradually warms up, the city government will continue to enhance maintenance efforts to restore normal operations of transportation infrastructure.