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In the News: A slew of updates on congestion pricing
LEAKING MEMOS ON CONGESTION PRICING
Crain’s reports that the Trump administration — so leaky! — just “shot its legal case against congestion pricing in the foot.” From Crain’s: Attorneys for the Federal Highway Administration late Thursday mistakenly filed an internal memo that bluntly concedes that the agency’s case is weak and ‘very unlikely’ to win. The 11-page document, filed into the New York federal court record as part of the MTA’s lawsuit challenging a federal order to kill the toll, also revealed another potential legal strategy for the agency to pursue.”
BUT ALSO THREATS FROM ADMINISTRATION…
The Times reported last week that the administration continues to threaten the state with the loss of federal funding on other transportation projects if they don’t reverse congestion pricing by the end of May. From The Times: “Sean Duffy, the U.S. secretary of transportation, wrote in a letter addressed to Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York that she had until May 21 to explain why his department should not make good on its threats. Penalties for not ending the tolls would begin May 28…We are giving New York one last chance to turn back or prove their actions are not illegal.”
AND A JUDGE STRUCK DOWN SEVERAL LAWSUITS
The Times also reports that a judge struck down several lawsuits, including those from a group of New York City residents, the United Federation of Teachers and the Trucking Association of New York, who claimed that congestion pricing is unfair to drivers and that it will create more traffic in some communities. contend that the plan was not properly vetted, that it is unfair to drivers and that some communities could see more traffic as motorists avoid the tolls, among other complaints.
MTA SEES GREEN
Gothamist reported in late March that the MTA collected $52 million in tolls in February, and just over $100 million since January, with $23 million in expenses. Also: “Travel times decreased for drivers by 10% to 30% on all crossings into the congestion zone. NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said the charges also corresponded with a 4% increase in bus speeds over the last month.”
BROADWAY SEES A BIG BOOST
amNY reports that Broadway has seen a boost in attendance compared to last year since congestion procing was introduced. There were almost 20 percent more people going to shows this year compared to the same period in 2024, and ticket sales are up by the millions in the week to week totals.
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Of course congestion pricing is “unfair to drivers”. That’s a feature, not a bug; it’s meant to be a disincentive to driving, and thus an incentive to use other forms of transit instead. The goal, after all, is to reduce driving.
Now, the claim that it just creates congestion in other areas is a valid concern, but that has to be empirically verified.
Not to mention that the UFT suit is likely driven directly by Mulgrew, who lives in Staten Island, and drives to HQ downtown. Pure, unbridled selfishness.
I like the “driven directly” turn of phrase there!
:)
I’ve driven into New York a couple times during the midday. I’ve come to the conclusion that $9 is a small price to pay to zip in and out. I save at least 45 minutes round trip. For me, that is definitely worth the $9 fee. Save 45 minutes, I’m worth it!
I hope the state doesn’t back down. Congestion pricing has had a clear, positive impact on safety in Tribeca—most notably by significantly reducing traffic around the Holland Tunnel. While the state is clearly motivated by the revenue it generates for the MTA, the program is also achieving its goals of easing congestion and improving safety. Meanwhile, opponents offer no serious alternatives for addressing traffic or protecting the quality of life within the congestion zone.
They continue to frame this as a burden on the working class, rather than grappling with the real issues congestion causes. I’d love to see Sean Duffy stand on Hudson Street on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and witness the chaos himself—rather than pandering to drivers from Staten Island and New Jersey, many of whom use ghost plates, block intersections, drive on sidewalks, and lay on their horns for blocks. I’m sorry some are being forced to take the subway like the rest of us.
Like their incessant honking, the opposition is a loud, obnoxious minority treating neighborhood streets like highways.