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Sam Schwartz

Sam Schwartz

Sam Schwartz coined the term “gridlock” during his days as head of the city’s Department of Traffic, a precursor to the current Department of Transportation. In a career that spans decades, “Gridlock” Sam has been a city transportation official, a traffic consultant and a Daily News columnist. He now runs the Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program at Roosevelt House at Hunter College in New York City.

Exclusive Excerpt: ‘Gridlock’ Sam’s Autonomous Car Thriller, ‘Autokill’

August 12, 2026