New York City

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Start spreading the news! We’re headed to New York City for the 2024 LINK trip!

We want to be a part of it:

New York, New York!

A vibrant and culturally rich metropolis, New York City is a global hub with significant economic, financial, and cultural influence. The city embodies a unique blend of history, innovation, and dynamism and we are ready to explore! Be sure to pack your walking shoes!

Like Atlanta, New York City is an economic leader. From film to finance, fashion to technology, NYC boasts a highly diversified powerhouse economy that paves the way for the city’s global importance. With a relentless spirit of innovation and a commitment to quality of life, NYC continually reinvents itself as a beacon of opportunity and cultural significance.

Most people are familiar with Manhattan because of the popular financial district, known as Wall Street. The financial moves made in this district are followed worldwide. The infamous Stock Exchange ticker tape and iconic bell ringing at the closing of the day on the trade floor can be found on Wall Street.

Moving from ticker tape to confetti, Times Square never disappoints. Amidst the everyday hustle and bustle, there are oversized ads, flashing lights and fast-paced activity. The Ball Drop at Times Square is one of the most exciting and famous places to ring in the New Year. Times Square stands as the iconic symbol of New York City, where millions of locals and travelers pass through annually. Its bustling sidewalks connect people from work to shopping, restaurants, hotels, and cultural activities, such as the theater. You’ll get to experience its transformation.

Manhattan also boasts popular neighborhoods like the very chic SoHo, and wealthy Greenwich Village. In the center of midtown Manhattan is the garment district, also known as the fashion district. Historically, it played a vital role in the production and manufacturing of clothing. Today, it is a prime example of adaptive reuse. Many old industrial spaces are transforming into affordable housing and short-term transitional housing.

While Broadway, Wall Street, Central Park, Grand Central Station, The Empire State Building, Times Square, and Rockefeller Center are must-see sites in the city, art lovers must visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Carnegie Hall, and the Statue of Liberty, which offer an in-depth exploration of art, sculpture, history, and performance.

New York City is not all concrete jungle. New Yorkers treasure moments of relaxation in the city's expansive parks like Central Park, Riverside Park, and Bryant Park. They enjoy the serene waterfronts of Queens and Brooklyn (and its crown jewel – Prospect Park).

With a relentless spirit of innovation and a commitment to quality of life, NYC continually reinvents itself as a beacon of opportunity and cultural significance.

New York City is made up of five boroughs, all which possess their unique cultural expression.

The Five Boroughs

Bronx: The Bronx is a borough south of Westchester County and the only New York City borough not primarily located on an island. It spans 42 square miles with a population of 1,472,654 as of the 2020 census, the highest ever recorded.

Brooklyn: Brooklyn is a borough on the westernmost end of Long Island, coextensive with Kings County. With 2,736,074 residents as of the 2020 census, it is the most populous of New York City's boroughs and counties. In 2022, its population density was 37,339.9 inhabitants per square mile, making it the second-most densely populated county in the U.S. after Manhattan.

Manhattan: Manhattan is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of New York City's five boroughs. Coextensive with New York County, it is located almost entirely on Manhattan Island. It serves as New York City's economic and administrative center and is considered the cultural, financial, media, and entertainment capital of the world.

Staten Island:Staten Island is the southernmost borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County. Separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull tidal straits and from the rest of New York by New York Bay, it has a population of 495,747 as of the 2020 census. It is the least populated but third largest borough by land area at 58.5 square miles.

Queens: Located at the western end of Long Island, Queens is the largest New York City borough by area. It is the most linguistically and ethnically diverse place on Earth, with a population of 2,405,464. If Queens were its own city, it would be the fourth most-populous in the U.S. It is the fourth-most densely populated borough in New York City and county in the U.S., with about 47% of its residents being foreign-born.

Transit

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America’s largest transportation network. It serves 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area around New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet, and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined.

The MTA New York City Transit system takes you almost anywhere in the metro area.

The LINK host hotel, the InterContinental Times Square, located at 300 W. 44^th Street, is near both the 42 Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal and the Times Square-42 Street stations.

Map of the New York City subway with railroad and airport connections — MTA Transit Map

MTA New York City Transit Facts:

Busiest train station in North America
One of the busiest rapid stations in the world with 472 stations (compare that to MARTA’s 38)
423 unique stations when compared to international standards
2,027,286,000 annual riders in 2023
Out of the 472 stations, 470 are served 24 hours a day
Added entrances on each corner of building and midblock to create connections between neighborhoods that were not there before (Hell’s Kitchen to West Midtown)
Grand Central is in Midtown East and it is 4^th most visited tourist attraction in the world

The Atlanta region’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is known as home to the world’s busiest airport, with more than 104.2 million travelers per year and employing more than 63,000 people as of January 2024. In contrast, the combined three NYC metro airports (LaGuardia, EUW [Newark Liberty International Airport] and John F. Kennedy) serve 49.3 - 60.2 million travelers per year.

New York City faces both transportation challenges and opportunities, including modernizing its aging infrastructure and committing to equity in transportation. It pushes the boundaries of innovation in technology, transportation, workforce development, and sustainability.

Aging Infrastructure:

Many subway lines, bridges, and tunnels are more than a century old and require significant maintenance and upgrades
Ongoing issues with delays and breakdowns highlight the need for modernization

Modernization Efforts:

New subway cars and the expansion of the Second Avenue Subway
Implementation of advanced signaling systems to improve efficiency and reduce wait times

Equity in Transportation:

Initiatives to improve transit access in underserved communities
Programs aimed at making public transportation more affordable for low-income residents

Sustainable Solutions:

Investment in eco-friendly transportation options, such as electric buses and expanded cycling infrastructure
Development of greenways and pedestrian pathways to promote non-motorized transit

Demographics

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Council is the regional council of governments that is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for New York City, Long Island, and the lower Hudson Valley. The 10-county region, which includes the 5 boroughs of New York City, plus Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland counties, is home to more than 13 million people.

Demographics: Atlanta Metro Area and New York Tri-state Area.

Employment: Atlanta Metro Area and New York Tri-state Area.

Education: Atlanta Metro Area and New York Tri-state Area.

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ARC Annual Partners

ARC’s Strategic Partners are committed to fostering collaborative regional approaches that improve quality of life in metro Atlanta. Their support elevates ARC leadership programs, research and events throughout the year.