Op-Ed: Why NYC Needs a Comprehensive Plan

In an op-ed in Crain’s New York Business, Donovan Finn argues that New York City’s congestion pricing program, set to take effect next year, offers an opportunity for the city to create a citywide comprehensive plan.

As Finn explains, “Because cities are interconnected systems, land use patterns and commerce will also change, unlocking improvements to the processes that sustain daily life. Deliveries, waste management, education, emergency services, stormwater and many other systems will experience ripple effects from congestion pricing, providing opportunities for smart and forward-thinking solutions.” Thus, “The entire layout of the city will need to evolve in response.”

A comprehensive plan, Finn argues, is the most effective way to build communication between public agencies and create “a consensus-based vision for the city that is innovative but also sustainable and just.” Many U.S. cities have comprehensive plans that they update regularly, Finn notes. 

With the congestion pricing program set to change mobility patterns and bring in new revenue, “harnessing this opportunity to address many of New York’s grand challenges will require coordinated governance with meaningful opportunities for participation by civic groups, advocates, business interests and the general public.”