A new report from the Mineta Transportation Institute, called “Using Toll Revenues for Transit: It Can and Should Be Done,” reinforces a long-held view in transportation circles: congestion pricing programs only succeed when paired with strong public transit. The report makes a clear case that toll revenue should be reinvested into transit options that are fast, frequent, convenient, and safe – giving commuters a “true alternative” to driving.
At a recent panel hosted by the MIT Mobility Initiative, transportation leaders weighed in on New York City’s early results with congestion pricing, including:
- Sam Schwartz, former NYC Traffic Commissioner and CEO of Sam Schwartz Engineering, emphasized the foundational need for both “serious congestion” and “good transit” for any congestion toll program to succeed.
- Will Carry, Assistant Commissioner for Policy at NYC DOT, noted that NYC has already seen 60,000 fewer cars per day entering the Manhattan congestion zone since implementation – a 10% reduction in traffic.
- Matt Daus, former NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission Chair and Partner of the Windels Marx Transportation Practice Group, said revenue should not be the focus. “We shouldn’t be calling it ‘congestion pricing.’ We should have called it ‘Move New York,’ or something like that. It should be about metrics to reduce congestion. Put the environment first, and the money second.”
The panel underscored that public trust and policy success hinge on delivering better bus and subway service – without it, charging drivers is a tough sell. As Daus noted: “You can’t legitimately tell people to get out of their cars if you don’t have a public transit system that’s safe, affordable, and works on time.”
Source: Windels Marx
