Op-Ed: Now is the Time for Congestion Pricing in NYC

In an op-ed in the New York Daily News, Betsy Plum and Kate Slevin argue that New York City's long-awaited plan to institute congestion pricing for vehicles entering Manhattan's central business district is "a welcome milestone" for a strong regional recovery.

"Now that the doors are open for quick action, the MTA should immediately begin determining the nuts and bolts of what New York’s program looks like — fixing how much tolls will cost, whether they’ll vary by time of day, who pays what," write Plum and Slevin. The authors contend that, "[w]ith forward thinking and hard work that starts now," the city could start its program and start earning revenue in as little as a year.

If instituted, the program would follow in the footsteps of London, Singapore, Stockholm, and other traffic-choked cities. "Congestion pricing is projected to raise about $1 billion annually for new subway signals, cars, elevators, buses and commuter rail. It will alleviate congestion worth an estimated $20 billion annually to residents." Additionally, the reduced traffic could lead to faster buses, "quicker emergency response times, less pollution, fewer carbon emissions, less chance of deadly collisions, less of a burden on businesses and customers and less stress for businesses, drivers, commuters and residents."