Congestion Pricing: It's a Hit!

In April 2007, literally just over a month after I started this blog, I first blogged about then-Mayor Bloomberg's proposal for congestion pricing.

That was 18 friggin' years ago! At the time, the politics for it were awful  and legislation for it kept dying ... and dying ... and dying. Finally, it passed, although there were lawsuits, the governor delayed its implementation, and there was even intervention from the criminals in the Trump administration to stop it.

Well, it all eventually failed. 

Three mayors, four governors, four presidents, and more than 3000+ blog posts later, congestion pricing finally took effect at the beginning of this year. And now the results are in and it's clear as day: congestion pricing is a smashing success!

It has generated $500 million in revenue in six months, and will generate a billion by the end of the year that will go to MTA improvements. Traffic delays are down, cars are getting through the tunnels faster, traffic deaths are down, and more people are using public transportation which is good for the environment and good for MTA revenues.

This is what good, people-focused public policy looks like, and BRAVO to all the politicians and activists who made it happen and SHAME to all those who tried to stop it!