Start counting down the clock on those “congestion” tolls: Team Trump has a clear path to ending them once the new president has his players in place.
The Biden crew opted to ignore the MTA’s failure to file a full environmental-impact statement on the “congestion pricing plan,” accepting instead a less-sweeping “assessment.”
As Nicole Gelinas notes for The Post, that leaves room for Trump officials (once Senate-confirmed) to revoke the federal OK — especially as New Jersey’s suit against the tolls is still live in federal court.
On the merits, the issue is open-and-shut: The tolls may improve air quality in Manhattan, but only at the cost of upping traffic and air pollution in Jersey, Staten Island and especially The Bronx — which already has some of the worst air issues in the nation.
The simple truth here is that this “congestion” plan was never about anything except getting cash for the MTA without Albany having to gore any other ox: Adding a new toll was the easiest out for then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, his successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and the Legislature’s progressive leaders.
In the Biden years, they had the DC connections to get away with it, but there’s a new cop in town and he’s on record saying the tolls need to go.
And if revoking the federal air-quality OK doesn’t do the trick, Congress can still act; Jersey Democrats might even join New York Republicans in passing a measure that, for example, cuts off Empire State highway money if these tolls remain in place.
Ending the tolls is a top priority for the likes of Reps. Mike Lawler and Nicole Malliotakis; they won’t let Queens’ most famous son forget his vow to stop them.
As Albany dickers over the new state budget, Hochul and the Legislature’s leaders need to get real about getting the MTA the funds (and savings) it needs without sticking commuters with the bill.
Why ‘congestion’ tolls are doomed — hooray!
In recent years, there has been a growing trend among cities to implement congestion tolls as a means of reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. However, these tolls have faced backlash from both residents and lawmakers, and it seems that their days may be numbered.
One of the main reasons why congestion tolls are doomed is that they disproportionately impact low-income individuals. Many critics argue that these tolls unfairly burden those who are already struggling financially, as they are forced to pay an additional fee just to travel to work or run errands. This has sparked outrage among residents and has led to calls for the tolls to be abolished.
Additionally, congestion tolls have not proven to be as effective at reducing traffic congestion as originally hoped. In some cities, traffic congestion has actually worsened since the implementation of these tolls, as drivers try to avoid paying the fees by taking alternate routes or traveling during off-peak hours. This has raised questions about the effectiveness of congestion tolls as a solution to traffic congestion.
Overall, it seems that congestion tolls are facing an uncertain future. With mounting opposition from residents and limited success in reducing traffic congestion, it may only be a matter of time before these tolls are phased out altogether. And for many, that is cause for celebration.
Tags:
congestion tolls, traffic congestion, transportation policy, urban planning, road pricing, traffic management, public transportation, city traffic, toll roads, congestion pricing, traffic solutions, traffic reduction.
#congestion #tolls #doomed #hooray
