newyork.localmean.com/fdr-drive
FDR Drive
EF-dee-AR DRYVE
Local meaning
A limited-access roadway along Manhattan’s East Side, commonly shortened in speech and traffic reports to the FDR.
The name honors Franklin D. Roosevelt. New Yorkers may say take the FDR, get off the FDR, or the FDR is backed up. It serves north–south travel on the East Side and has restrictions and low-clearance conditions relevant to some vehicles.
Example in context
- “Take the FDR south if traffic is moving.”
How it is used
An official Manhattan roadway name and familiar local shorthand.
neutral, practical
driving, traffic reports, East Side directions
An official Manhattan roadway name and familiar local shorthand.
Commercial-vehicle restrictions and changing traffic conditions matter; route planning should use current official information.
Spelling and scope
An official Manhattan roadway name and familiar local shorthand.
- Search forms
FDR Drive meaningthe FDR NYCFDR highway Manhattan
LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable without claiming that every borough, community, or generation uses one written form.
Frequently asked questions
What does FDR stand for?
It refers to Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Do New Yorkers say FDR Drive or the FDR?
Both occur, but the FDR is very common in conversation and traffic reports.
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
These sources support the regional association, dictionary sense, or broader spread. The entry remains open to correction from New York speakers and qualified reviewers.
- New York City highwaysNYC311
Official city list of highways and common abbreviations including BQE, FDR, LIE, Cross Bronx Expressway, Belt Parkway, and Route 9A.
- Parkway truck restrictionsNew York City Department of Transportation
Official guidance identifying city parkways, including the Belt Parkway and FDR Drive, and commercial-vehicle restrictions.