Skip to content

Sadik-Khan: What We Lose Without Congestion Pricing [Updated]

Ben Fried reports live from the City Council congestion pricing hearing, underway at City Hall:


Ben Fried reports live from the City Council congestion pricing hearing, underway at City Hall:

According to Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, without congestion pricing:

  • Western Queens will not see a 39% reduction in its most severe traffic jams and a 6.1 percent reduction in total traffic; will not get new bus routes from Middle Village to South Ferry in Lower Manhattan, and from Jackson heights to Penn Station; and will not get improved service on the Q60 bus route or 46 new subway cars that would increase service frequency on the E and F trains
  • Western Queens may lose state-of-the-art train control on the 7 line that would allow trains to run faster and closer together for better, more frequent service
  • North-central Brooklyn will not see a 22.1% reduction in severe traffic jams, 33 more buses on the B41 line, or more capacity on the C line
  • North-central Brooklyn may lose BRT on Nostrand Avenue and upgraded PA systems on stations on the G line
  • The northeast Bronx won’t see an 8.3% reduction in severe traffic jams or three new express bus routes to Lower Manhattan
  • The northeast Bronx may lose extension of BRT service to Pelham Parkway and upgraded service on the 5 line

UPDATE. More transit and traffic benefits, including improvements for Staten Island, that will be threatened if congestion pricing fails to pass:

  • Staten Island won’t see a 12.3% reduction in severe traffic jams or 33 new express buses
  • Staten Island may lose BRT along Hylan Boulevard, 64 new cars for the Staten Island Railway, and a new Arthur Kill railway station
  • Lower Manhattan will not receive a 32.3% reduction in severe traffic jams and a 6.4% reduction in total traffic, 33 new buses on half a dozen lines, or greater capacity on the E, F and C lines
Photo of Ben Fried
Ben Fried started as a Streetsblog reporter in 2008 and led the site as editor-in-chief from 2010 to 2018. He lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, with his wife.

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog New York City

Columbia Agrees to Fund 125th Street Subway Elevator — But Leaves MTA Holding the Bag

April 17, 2026

Waymo Means Way Mo’ Cars, According To Uber Docs

April 17, 2026

Friday’s Headlines: Wither Outdoor Dining Edition

April 17, 2026

Hochul Could Cut ‘Runaway’ Crash Lawsuits With Default Motorist Liability

April 16, 2026
See all posts