NYC Gazette

New York, NY – On April 21, 2023, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Congressman Jerry Nadler (NY-12) led transportation and environmental advocates in a press conference outside the Lincoln Tunnel urging the immediate implementation of New York’s Central Business District (CBD) Tolling Program, also known as “congestion pricing.” Congressmen Goldman and Nadler represent the entirely of the Central Business District as well as many of New York’s vulnerable communities that bear the brunt of poor air quality due to traffic congestion.  

The press conference follows the release of the Members' letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg encouraging the DOT to green-light congestion pricing, which has already been signed into law in New York, to meet an early-2024 deadline. The Members also penned a joint op-ed today expressing their support for the program in the New York Daily News, which can be read here. 

“It is long past time that we make congestion pricing the law of the land in New York City to pave the way for vital improvements in our air quality and public transportation system,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Any New Yorker can tell you that car traffic on our streets has reached untenable levels, hindering the ability of our buses to operate efficiently and further harming the vulnerable communities who bear the brunt of the negative impacts of air pollution. I’m proud to join Representative Nadler in calling on the DOT to allow congestion pricing to take effect in New York City so we can build a greener, safer city for all of us.” 

Congressman Jerry Nadler said: "Today, I was proud to join Rep. Goldman and transportation advocates to witness the Lincoln Tunnel choked with traffic. The consequences of this congestion continue to negatively impact low-income communities of color across New York City that have been historically forced into highway-adjacent neighborhoods that suffer from poor air quality, resulting in higher rates of asthma and respiratory illness. These communities and our city deserve better. That’s why we are thrilled that New York is on the verge of implementing a congestion pricing program to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and provide much-needed funding to improve and expand our essential public transit system. However, we need the United States Department of Transportation to finish the job. That’s why we sent a letter to Secretary Buttigieg this morning calling for the Department of Transportation to reaffirm its commitment to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact without further delay and finally delivering congestion pricing for New York City.” 

Renae Reynolds, Executive Director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign said: "We are running out of time to meet our climate goals to stop catastrophic climate change. We need congestion pricing now. TSTC has been advocating for congestion pricing for most of the 30 years our organization has existed. The time has come. This is the right policy to support our region's efforts to: reduce emissions for millions in environmental justice communities; to improve the transit system that makes it all possible; and to make our streets better for all who use them be they in a car or a bus, if they are walking or riding a bike, whether they are a resident of New York or New Jersey or are visiting from around the world." 

Betsy Plum, Executive Director of the Riders Alliance said: "Congestion pricing is the single largest source of funds to fix the busiest transit system in America. Thanks to Representatives Nadler and Goldman for standing up for millions of subway and bus riders who deserve fast, reliable and accessible service." 

Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives said: “All New Yorkers bear the burden of traffic congestion — from longer bus rides to worse air quality to the pain of traffic violence. Congestion pricing will deliver faster commutes, better air, and reduced crashes. We need congestion pricing now and cannot afford to wait any longer. Thank you to Representatives Nadler and Goldman for championing congestion pricing,” 

Andrew Albert, Chair of the NYC Transit Riders Council and MTA Board Member, said: “Our transit network is the region’s lifeblood – as critical as the air we breathe. However, that air is getting more polluted as more cars cram onto our roadways, something we’re particularly mindful of during Earth Week. Congestion Pricing will not only improve air quality and reduce traffic, it will provide critical funding for our vital transit infrastructure – crucial upgrades to signals, tracks and stations, including accessibility improvements – and help pay for expansion projects like Penn Access and the next phases of the Second Avenue Subway. It’s a win for transit riders, the environment, our economy and our entire region. Every day of delay costs money and increases pollution and congestion. We’re calling for the USDOT to release the letter of legal sufficiency and a Finding of No Significant Impact as expeditiously as possible so we can get the show on the road, and the cars off it.”   

Hindy Schachter, Member of Families For Safe Streets said: "After London implemented congestion pricing, vehicular crashes dropped by 35%. Some of New York City’s most dangerous streets like Canal Street, Houston Street, Northern Boulevard, and Flatbush Avenue all process high traffic volumes that would directly be reduced by congestion pricing, making our streets across the city safer. We applaud Representatives Nadler and Goldman for their leadership in supporting this life-saving policy.”   

Patrick McClellen, Policy Director for the New York League of Conservation Voters said: “It’s been well over a decade since congestion pricing was first proposed in New York City, and as the regional population and commerce have grown during that time, so too has traffic and gridlock – which causes higher greenhouse gas emissions and worse air pollution throughout the Tri-State Area. The time has come for the state to turn plans into action–we must implement congestion pricing now." 

Excessive traffic has presented overwhelming quality of life issues for New Yorkers for decades. Cars and trucks account for almost 25 percent of New York City’s greenhouse gas pollution, contributing to one of the highest rates of hospitalization and death due to asthma in the country. African Americans and Latinos account for over 80 percent of cases. These communities have been historically forced into highway-adjacent neighborhoods that suffer from poor air quality. They also rely most-heavily on public the transportation that would be improved by increased revenue from congestion pricing.  

While New York City has the most advanced and expansive public transit system in the country, ridership levels are still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. 2023 public transit ridership levels are still only 81 percent of where they were pre-pandemic. The MTA receives 25 percent of its operating budget from rider fares and without congestion pricing, our subway and bus systems face an existential threat.  

Congestion pricing programs implemented around the world have been proven to effectively combat the worsening effects of climate change and improve public transit ridership. Following the implementation of congestion pricing in London, bus ridership increased significantly, opening roads for greener and more pedestrian-friendly uses. In California, congestion pricing resulted in a 40 percent increase in carpooling.  

Recent studies have shown that half of New York drivers would drive less often if congestion pricing were implemented. 

As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to fighting for innovative solutions to the climate crises that keep environment equity at the forefront.  

Original source can be found here.