Although it’s still way too early to tell, the data seems to show that congestion pricing is working as intended. According to an article in The New Republic, “In the first week of the new policy, Manhattan traffic dropped by 7.5%. Commute times are down dramatically on many major and notoriously clogged arteries, including, every single day, almost all day, the Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel, the Williamsburg Bridge, and the Queensboro Bridge – meaning not just lowered congestion and pollution but time savings for those motorists who do need to drive. Subway, bus, and commuter rail ridership are already way up.”
The Wall Street Journal reported similar numbers, but not all the news was good.
“Traffic got worse on some roads,” the WSJ said. “Traveling westbound on 23rd Street during the afternoon rush was 15% slower than last year and westbound traffic on 42nd Street was 17% slower as well.”
It will likely be months before we’ll really know whether congestion pricing is a good thing for New York City, but even if the data is conclusive, it doesn’t mean the fate of the new toll is secure. It continues to face strong opposition, including multiple legal challenges and other opponents.
Meanwhile, it’s important to watch out for scammers, who wasted no time sending fake text messages to people threatening late fees on unpaid congestion tolls.
“The scam texts – termed ‘smishing’ – encourage folks to access a website that will encourage people to input a wide variety of information. If you submit your info to the fake website, it’s over, and the scammer has your info,” MSNreported. “E-ZPass New York says it ‘will never ask for a customer’s Date of Birth, Social Security Number, or other personally identifiable information.”
To check if a fee or charge is legitimate, go to TollsByMailNY.com.
Another useful website is the Congestion Pricing Tracker, which uses Google Maps traffic data to monitor congestion, according to amNY. It can be found at www.congestion-pricing-tracker.com.
The city’s Taxi & Limousine Commission is also reminding its licensees that they must provide work for a base or company that signed an agreement with the MTA, to ensure they are not charged the $9 toll drivers in regular passenger vehicles are paying. You can learn more about the toll at congestionreliefzone.mta.info.
For more information about the MTA’s taxi and FHV tolling policy, visit https://new.mta.info/tolls/congestion-relief-zone/taxi-fhv-tolls. Questions can be directed to either CRZtaxifhv-support@mta.info or communityaffairs@tlc.nyc.gov.
Charles Komanoff, a national expert on congestion pricing and traffic modeling, and the former head of Transportation Alternatives wrote in StreetsBlog NYC in December that: “I anticipate an immediate 5% uptick in taxi (yellow-cab) rides, as the thinning of private car volumes makes taxi use more attractive on account of both faster trips and lower fares due to lesser ‘wait times’ built into taxis’ fare structure… Ride-hails will see only a meager rise in volumes, 0.7 percent, as their new $1.50 surcharge cancels out most of the carrot of higher speeds and also transfers a small slice of their FHV market share to traditional taxicabs.”
The New Republic wrote, “Traffic should decline still further – projections suggest it will reduce by some 17% overall. Greenhouse gas emissions are expected to decline by some 20%. Child asthma and other pollution-related health problems should decline as the city’s air gets cleaner; air pollution should decline by about 10%, leading to fewer of those depressing air quality warnings and allowing New Yorkers to literally breathe easier. And with fewer cars on the road, fewer pedestrians, bikers, and motorists will die in traffic accidents.”
But again, these are just estimates… I’m very curious to hear what impact congestion pricing actually has on the incomes of the city’s black car, livery, taxi and app-hail drivers. Please don’t hesitate to email me your thoughts and experiences directly at: neil@blackcarnews.com… and stay safe out there
