New York City to get congestion charging?

New York City (NYC) has been discussing the issue for the past two years – like many other cities around the world – and seems finally to be on the verge of turning discussions into action. If it goes ahead, which seems likely, it could be the high profile advocate needed to reassure dozens of other cities to get their congestion charging plans off the drawing board and on to the streets.

Poll
A poll of NYC residents in spring 2007 found that 68 per cent regarded traffic congestion as a serious problem. Indeed, the four New York counties of Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx and Brooklyn have the top four longest commute times in the entire United States. Studies estimate that traffic jams cost the New York City area US$13 billion every year in lost revenue, and cars and trucks contribute 20 per cent of the city's global warming and other emissions.

NYC’s Commission on Transport Mitigation, established by State Governor Eliot Spitzer in summer 2007, came out in favour of a congestion charging plan similar to – but simpler than – the one proposed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in April 2007.

Lower Manhattan
The plan envisages a congestion charging zone covering the lower half of Manhattan island, south of 60th Street (the bottom end of Central Park). Under the commission’s plan, cars would be charged US$8 to drive into the congestion zone between 6am and 6pm. Trucks would pay US$21, except for low-emission trucks, which would pay US$7. Drivers would pay once on first entering the zone and would be able to make additional trips in and out of the zone at no additional cost.

The US$73 million scheme would be monitored using the existing ‘E-ZPass’ electronic toll system and number plate recognition cameras. According to the commission’s research, the plan would reduce traffic at peak times by up to 34 per cent in the most congested areas.

If the commission’s plan gets the go-ahead – it needs to be approved by the State Legislature and then the City Council – New York will be one of only four major international cities to introduce congestion charging, the others being London, Singapore and Stockholm.

Who's next?
Edward Jobson, environmental director at Volvo Buses, sums up the thoughts of many when he says in his blog, “NYC seem to be the next large city to convert. Adding them to the list would certainly give additional weight for many others.” Let’s hope so.