Governor Hochul, Jano Lieber of the MTA and Mayor Zohran Mamdani as well as an impressive collection of elected officials and business representatives joined the Congestion Pricing Now Coalition and activists to celebrate the accomplishment of this very special one-year old. It was an uplifting reunion with fun quotes and beaming smiles.
Delays are down and speeds are up in Manhattan especially coming in and out of places like the Holland Tunnel, the MTA is reporting it’s 51% faster than before congestion pricing; Lincoln Tunnel, 25%, Queensborough Bridge, 29% . Even crashes are down in Manhattan and air quality is up by 22% . Anecdotally, people are rerooting that it is easier to find a parking space at the curb.
The MTA estimated they’re going to bring in about $550 million in the first year, foot traffic was up, business did fine. Broadway had its best year ever. I think even commercial rents are doing better than they were before.
These were the benefits we had expected in 2007, when we joined Mayor Bloomberg in his quest to implement congestion pricing. It worked 18 years later at the second try. But let’s remain vigilant- there are still lawsuits underway.