New York City Congestion Pricing: Flawed Policy That Hurts Commuters

President Donald Trump recently  announced that he will be ending NYC congestion pricing. In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy informed her that the DOT’s Federal Highway Administration would halt the approval of the program. However, Hochul is now suing to keep congestion pricing.

The plan was put in effect on January 5, 2024, before Trump returned to the White House. New York City’s congestion pricing plan has been met with intense controversy from the outset, and for good reason. The policy, which aims to charge drivers a hefty fee to enter Manhattan’s central business district, where a vast majority of commuters work, is being touted as a solution to both traffic congestion and funding shortfalls in the city’s mass transit system. In reality, congestion pricing creates unintended financial burdens on commuters, small businesses, and outer-borough residents in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Westchester County. 

I choose to commute to the city by train, which I highly recommend. It is never worth the drive where you would be paying a lump sum in tolls and for parking just to enjoy a nice day in the greatest city in the world. Unfortunately, some people cannot take the train into NYC for work due to them using a commercial vehicle for delivering goods to small businesses or using Uber as a side hustle when bringing in passengers from outside NYC.

Some commuters rely on their cars to get into the city because they either live too far away, making travel fares expensive, or public transportation is either unreliable or nonexistent in their neighborhoods. These individuals, who cannot easily access Manhattan through transit, will face severe financial strain. In addition, crime has skyrocketed in the NYC subway system making commuters hesitant to use it. Even small businesses and gig economy workers, such as pizza delivery drivers, are also struggling as they face increased costs that could be passed on to consumers, affecting pricing and service accessibility.

Congestion pricing fees are currently up to $9 for each trip. Proponents argue that this will reduce traffic, cut air pollution, and generate revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) which as of last month is $46.8 billion in debt. Generating revenue for MTA is the primary reason for congestion pricing. This is a ridiculous reason as MTA has gone through many fare increases and has received many subsidies over the years. However, just like NJ Transit, their service reliability and infrastructure is atrocious. Let’s face it, public transportation in the NYC area is a disaster. Between the delays, train derailments, and old infrastructure, traveling on public transportation can be a very frustrating experience. I know this from first-hand experience when I worked at The New York Post last year. There was one night I did not get home until 9:30 PM because there was a train stuck in one of the Hudson River tunnels.

Rather than imposing a new financial burden, efforts can be directed toward increasing transparency and efficiency in transit funding. Addressing operational inefficiencies and ensuring funds are allocated effectively would help improve public confidence in the system’s sustainability. Adding a new fee when mass transit reliability and infrastructure can be overhauled is big government at its worst.

It is always important to explore alternative solutions instead of having the taxpayer get the brunt of it all. Hochul’s goal to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution can be achieved with less negative economic impacts. This can be done by expanding and modernizing public transportation, improving traffic flow into and out of NYC, and providing incentives for off-peak commuting are ways that can contribute to a more balanced approach, saving taxpayers a boatload of money.