Depending on how you look at it, New York City traffic is more congested than ever. Enter the “congestion charge”. Since last Sunday, a $9 toll has been imposed on cars entering the lower half of Manhattan most hours of the day. Truck tolls are higher.
1,400 cameras monitor the approximately 150,000 commuters who drive into the zone.
“If we can influence some of these people, we can make a difference and make it a better place for everyone,” said Urban Transit, which operates New York’s vast subway, bus and commuter rail fleet. Jano Lieber, director of the bureau, said the railway system. “Business leaders say we waste a lot of money, literally billions of dollars, by keeping people stuck in traffic.”
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Revenue from congestion fees primarily goes to the MTA to improve mass transit. Lieber said the company plans to raise between $500 million and $800 million annually.
This pricing concept dates back to 1952 and gained traction in the early 2000s. However, there were many difficulties along the way. There were controversial lawsuits and protests.
None of the New Jersey drivers were too happy. They have already paid more than $15 in bridge and tunnel tolls to enter the city.
Singapore started congestion pricing in 1975 and Stockholm in 2006. However, New York is based on the London plan introduced in 2003.
Opponents in New York say it’s just a cash grab and a new tax that primarily hurts working people.
John McDonough has been driving taxis for over 40 years. He’s a playwright and radio host, but he’s not a fan of the plan. “It’s not going to ease the congestion here,” McDonough said. “The current road design in New York has bus lanes on one side, bike lanes on the other, and concrete barriers. So if you have 10 cars, you’ve got a traffic jam.”
But if that money goes to improving public transportation, that helps everyone, right?
McDonough said, “Oh, really? A woman was burned on the subway. Some people were forced onto the tracks. There were robberies. And if you take the New York subway, jumping through the turnstiles is now an Olympic sport. “It has become,” he answered. . ”
This is known as turnstile jumping, or more politely known as “fare evasion,” and the MTA estimates it will cost it $800 million a year, more than likely due to congestion pricing. is almost the same as a certain number.
There is also evasion of bus fares. According to the MTA, 47% of riders don’t pay their fares.
“The MTA is now installing cameras so they can catch people,” said Kathy Wilde, president of the Partnership for New York City, which mobilizes business leaders to help the city thrive. “They’re sending in police and the National Guard is also in our system to make sure people pay their fares.”
Mr. Wilde is a longtime advocate of congestion pricing, and has this advice for other U.S. cities: “The benefits need to be clearly explained,” she says. “Most of the time, you need transportation options. Otherwise, it’s just a tax. Because if you don’t have options, someone is going to fight back.”
“The lesson from London is that we introduced 200 new bus routes before we introduced congestion pricing,” Mr Wilde said. “So they got the public to accept it. They had a choice.”
James Carbone/Newsday RM via Getty Images
It’s hard to know how it’s working in New York City even after a week, but Wild says that “just a few days after implementing congestion pricing, we’ve already seen a significant reduction in traffic.” I’m very excited to be there.”
But the battle in New York may not be over yet. Among the opponents is former and future president Donald Trump. But Wilde isn’t worried. “President Trump has property in New York,” she said. “I’m sure he’s been stuck in traffic here many times before. And I think he’ll appreciate that New York will be a more productive city.”
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Story produced by Jay Kernis. Editor: Carol Ross.
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