The Impact of Congestion Pricing on Riders and the Economy

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With congestion pricing moving closer after years of anticipation and planning, transit riders can finally breathe more easily. Rider advocates are thrilled.

Congestion pricing will benefit subway, bus, Staten Island Railway, and commuter rail riders, the region, and the economy. It will also ease travel for those driving into the Central Business District, as well as emergency and paratransit vehicles and buses stuck in gridlock.

The benefits include cleaner air, less traffic, and $15 billion raised for critical transit infrastructure. However, this has led to delays in signal upgrades and could impact the MTA’s operating budget.

Congestion pricing will be an investment in the future of the transit system. After two decades of debate, legislation in 2019 paved the way for the current congestion pricing plan. The MTA, along with city and state Departments of Transportation, has held numerous public meetings and received thousands of comments from people across the region. The Traffic Mobility Review Board has made fair and reasonable recommendations after considering public input and different scenarios.

New York has a transit champion in Gov. Hochul, who has supported congestion pricing and worked to fully fund transit service for the next five years. The focus now is on fulfilling the Streets Plan mandate to construct 150 miles of bus and bike lanes by 2025. Delays in progress create bad policy and precedent, impacting millions of commuters across the region.

To opponents of congestion pricing in New Jersey, we say get on board or get out of the way!