Media Tip Sheets

Congestion pricing in Manhattan. Will it help?

Tuesday, November 19, 2024, By Ellen Mbuqe
Members of the media looking for an expert to discuss the impact of congestion pricing, after New York’s MTA voted to allow a $9 fee on vehicles entering Manhattan, please consider associate professor Anne Mosher.
Professor Mosher teaches about urban planning and infrastructure in the Maxwell School department of geography and the environment. She can discuss the impact of congestion pricing and how other large cities have fared with similar policies. To arrange an interview, please get in touch with Ellen James Mbuqe, executive director of media relations, at ejmbuqe@syr.edu.
Will the $9 toll lessen congestion in NYC?
  • “The toll is likely to reduce certain congestion, particularly from daily commuters who could switch to public transportation, which is often more cost-effective. However, essential traffic—like delivery trucks and vehicles traveling to JFK and LaGuardia—will still need to traverse these areas, so the impact on overall congestion may be more nuanced.”

Does this add funds needed for the MTA?

  • “Yes. This revenue stream will help the MTA to fund critical infrastructure upgrades, like modernizing signals and adding accessibility features. Given potential uncertainties in federal funding for transportation, this local funding source becomes even more vital.”

Are there examples of cities that have benefited from congestion pricing?

  • “London and Stockholm are prominent success stories. Both cities saw significant drops in traffic congestion and improved air quality. They implemented flexible, income-sensitive pricing models, and their gradual rollouts allowed time for public transit adjustments. San Francisco has also utilized congestion pricing, particularly on bridges, to manage traffic flow effectively. This is part of a broader trend often called ‘pay-as-you-go’ funding for infrastructure, which has historical precedence in how NYC’s Bridge and Tunnel Authority funded highway connections. Actually, it is also how the Erie Canal was built. Tolls generated by early segments paid for the completion and upgrade of the system.”