Go Green: Early Results on Congestion Pricing
By Tom Last
Back in January, I wrote an article on “Congestion Pricing Let’s Give it a Chance.” In my article, I defended congestion pricing based on the favorable results achieved in other major cities around the world, along with the overall benefits of – reduced commuter times, less air and noise pollution, an increase in revenue to support MTA projects and repairs, etc. So, last week I was pleased to read an article in the NY Times (Moran, Karsten, The NY Times – New York Today, Feb. 25) that substantiated the early positive results of congestion pricing. In the article, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority commented that “congestion pricing brought in 48.6 million in its first month.”
This significant amount of revenue helps to prove that congestion pricing is doing what it was created to do – generate revenue that will be used to improve our mass transit system, including modernizing subway signals, making stations more accessible for riders with disabilities, extending the Second Avenue subway line to East Harlem, and increasing police presence in the subway systems. Our subway system is extremely old and is desperately in need of these improvements.
Congestion pricing’s other goal was to reduce traffic congestion in NYC. Well, mission accomplished as congestion is down 9% since the inception of congestion pricing. Not only that, but because more people are taking mass transit, there is more foot traffic in Manhattan and small businesses are reporting more sales activity. Last year New York City had almost 65 million tourists visit. A great majority of those tourists depend on mass transit. An improved system benefits tourism which in turn benefits NYC businesses, which benefit all of us.
Unfortunately, the administration in Washington D.C. is trying to terminate congestion pricing. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy questioned whether the purpose of the program was actually geared toward reducing congestion on Manhattan’s busy streets. He said on CBS News, “I think there’s a lot of great ideas around congestion pricing, and how we can reduce it. But you can’t take American taxpayers, who paid for the roads, and block them out and say, you can’t access this unless you pay additional money.” Duffy went on to say that congestion pricing is “a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners.”
I hope Secretary Duffy studies these early positive results on congestion pricing and changes his mind to support it. Better yet, how about Secretary Duffy visit the Big Apple to see the results for himself before rendering any decision on it, because this working class American and my morning travelers on the QM16 really appreciate getting to work 15-20 minutes earlier each morning and the same for our return trip, due to less cars on the road.
At a press conference last week, Governor Hochul defiantly proclaimed, “Until ruled otherwise, the congestion pricing cameras are staying on.” The Governor understands that an improved mass transit system and reduced congestion in NYC are good for all New Yorkers. I admire Governor Hochul for her bravery to stand up to the administration in Washington including the King and to continue with the congestion pricing program.
Go Green congestion pricing and Governor Hochul!
