Archives
Categories

Reported Changes Could Improve Congestion Pricing Plan

On Monday Crain’s New York Business reported that the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission is considering significant changes to NYC’s congestion pricing plan. (Crain’s requires a subscription, but the story is available on Streetsblog.)

The changes reportedly being considered include:

  • Moving the northern boundary of the congestion pricing zone to 60th Street from 86th Street.
  • Drastically reducing the number of enforcement cameras.
  • Increasing the cost of on-street parking in the central business district.
  • Tolling the East River bridges.
  • Potentially changing the toll offset for users of Port Authority and MTA crossings.

It’s not certain that all of the reported changes will make it into the commission’s recommendations, but it is a sign of a healthy public process that the commission is considering these sorts of changes. It’s far better to have a plan which incorporates the input of a broad spectrum of New Yorkers, as opposed to a plan which makes important stakeholders feel left out and can be dismissed as “the mayor’s plan.”

Furthermore, many of the reported changes make sense from a policy perspective. Tolling the East River bridges would remove the incentive for drivers to make detours, often through residential neighborhoods, in order to access a free bridge. Increasing on-street parking fees to encourage turnover would reduce the number of cars cruising for parking; the concept of variable parking pricing has become increasingly mainstream, and is currently being explored by the Columbus Avenue BID and Transportation Alternatives as part of the Upper West Side Streets Renaissance program. Reducing the number of cameras, to the extent that it increases revenues for transit, is also a positive development.

Changing the boundary to 60th St. from 86th St. and changing the toll offset deserve careful study. How would a boundary change affect traffic reduction or revenues? Is it fair to ask that drivers from New Jersey or Queens (for example) who use tolled crossings pay more than other drivers bound for the CBD?

The commission’s next meeting is Monday; MTR will be there and will report on any breaking developments.

Share This Post on Social
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Marilyn Mohamed
Marilyn Mohamed
16 years ago

When reviewing an issue as critical as traffic congestion in Manhattan, every idea, no matter where it comes, from should be carefully considered. If the planning process is open and thorough the best set of intitiatives will be found.

PS – Don’t forget that traffic congestion in the other boroughs are in need of solutions too.

1
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x