Yisroel R.

New York City has seen a sharp increase in complaints about malfunctioning traffic signals following two major winter storms and a prolonged deep freeze that gripped the region for weeks.

According to the city’s Department of Transportation, 15,543 complaints about broken or malfunctioning signals have been filed so far this year, a 42 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. Officials say much of the problem stems from last month’s powerful blizzard, which dropped up to 24 inches of snow in parts of the city.

Transportation officials explained that many of the complaints involved traffic lights flashing yellow due to voltage fluctuations. Melting snow and ice can seep into underground wiring, causing disruptions to signal systems. Fallen trees and power outages linked to the storm also contributed to the outages.

A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation said crews worked quickly to restore affected signals, responding to issues in an average of one hour and 40 minutes.

The city operates roughly 13,500 signalized intersections, though only some are equipped with battery backups that allow traffic lights to continue functioning during power disruptions.

In addition to traffic signal problems, the Department of Transportation said pothole complaints have also increased following the severe winter conditions. So far this year, the city has received 13,649 reports about street conditions. Officials say the spike is typical after heavy storms and snowplowing, noting that crews fill around 170,000 potholes each year.