The Politics That Derailed Congestion Pricing in New York
Politics tamfitronics Congestion pricing is an unfortunate name. The term comes from market economics, but it sounds like you’re paying for a sinus infection—and this point was made by a supporter of congestion pricing in New York. The idea is to reduce car and truck traffic in a city’s busiest zone (Manhattan below Sixtieth Street, say) with a toll levied on vehicles entering that zone. Nobody likes a new toll, and congestion pricing doesn’t poll well in New York City, not even in Manhattan. It does worse in the suburbs.In London, where it’s called congestion charging, the system was initially unpopular and a heavy political lift. But it has been in place for twenty-one years and, by any metric, has been a great success, thanks in part to constant tweaking. Traffic is lighter and safer...
