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For those of us who live in New York, mass transit is the norm and traffic is a minor form of apocalypse. In response to this persistent issue, New York City implemented a new congestion pricing plan.
Besides the increased funds for badly-needed infrastructure improvements, the plan made other promises. These also include reduced commute times, better air-quality, and improved safety for all road users.
Because the sample size is small, it is an open question of whether congestion pricing has delivered? Can it deliver? And how did we get from the horse and buggy, to the street car, to the train and automobile-based system we have now? Will it apply to other cities in the U.S.?
Nicole Gelinas and I took some time to trace New York’s transportation history in her new book and analyze the prospects for congestion pricing’s effectiveness going forward.
(*UPDATE: 20 minutes after we stopped recording on 2/19/25, President Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation was pulling its approval of New York City’s congestion pricing plan. Governor Holchul has met, apparently unsuccessfully, with President Trump on the topic. Litigation has already started. STAY TUNED.)
NICOLE GELINAS, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder, is a Manhattan Institute senior fellow and contributing editor to City Journal. She lives in New York City. She is the author of the recent book, Movement: New York’s Long War to Take Back Its Streets From the Car.
Outline
How did you get interested in congestion pricing and the development of transportation in NYC?
New York City’s Transit History
What are some of the “tragedies” (Cross Bronx Expressway / death of streetcar) and “near misses” (The Saving of Washington Square Park and Grand Central Terminal) that we don’t know about?
How much credit or blame should we give Robert Moses?
Congestion pricing- what is it trying to do (and is it trying to do too much)?
- As a revenue raiser
- To reduce congestion
- Help environment
- Quality of Life
What are the early returns on its effectiveness?
(Anecdotally, to me it seems like it is having a positive congestion effect in Manhattan)
- Uber/Taxis? Notwithstanding these initiatives, what about these often empty cars?
- E-Bikes? Now that the city has addressed cars, what about the safety concerns of motorized bikes?
- How is the program affecting Westchester, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut?
- As a result of these changes, has the air quality shown any improvement?
Meanwhile, is London a Success?
Because of its heady reputation of being one of the most forward cities on congestion control, urban planners trot out London as an example for others. Is this warranted?
(However, having been there in November, I thought the traffic was insane! )
Did they do other things to screw up a good initiative?
Congestion Pricing’s Future (*Before Trump’s Involvement)
I never met an automatic tax that a politician didn’t see to expand and the tax is automatically going up by law,
Regarding government’s growing addiction to revenue,
- Will the program expand?
- Will the borders go north? Brooklyn? Queens?
- Or can it go backward under Trump?
- Regardless, does the MTA have the will to cut costs?
- Notwithstanding the controversy, is there any political will to enhance safety?