Our spineless governor delayed it until after the election (fat lot of good that did), but congestion pricing is finally in effect:
https://gothamist.com/news/in-first-days-of-congestion-pricing-new-yorkers-see-signs-of-reduced-gridlockIt's too early to tell how it will shake out in the long run, but already there's been a big drop in traffic. Anecdotally, two of Mrs. FL's coworkers take the bus, and they both love it. They said it's cut their commute time in half. I've seen videos on social media of streets in lower Manhattan that are eerily clear during rush hour.
As a New Yorker, I'm 100% in favor of this. I've lived in Queens for fifteen years, and I've driven into Manhattan maybe four times. No rational person enjoys it. If congestion pricing makes driving into Manhattan more pleasant on the rare occasions that I choose to do it, I'll pay and be glad. I own two cars, but I know it's a luxury. People who choose to drive should pay for the privilege.
More important, congestion pricing is a win-win for society. It benefits people who
need to drive, because they can get where they're going faster and easier, instead of spending hours in gridlock. If your spare time is worth
$25 per hour, which is about 42 cents a minute, then a logical person should happily pay a $9 toll if it saves them even 22 minutes of sitting in traffic.
It also benefits people who
live in Manhattan, who'll enjoy less noise pollution, cleaner air, better health, safer streets, and fewer pedestrians mowed down in traffic. The revenue, by law, will go to improving mass transit, so those of us who take the train should benefit from better service as well.
