Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Congestion Pricing

Thursday’s Headlines: Congestion Pricing Clusterf*ck Edition

Gridlock Alert day in Manhattan. (Funny, no one told the car drivers.) Photo: Clarence Eckerson Jr.

Here it is, the day you've been clenching your fists in anticipation for: the opening of the 16-month congestion pricing public comment period. As our own Dave Colon pointed out the other day (and Guse of the NewsuhDavid Meyer of the Post and Stephen Nessen of WNYC did on Wednesday), not much is going to come from these public gripe sessions except a lot of public griping (and plenty of long-suffering New Yorkers begging for relief from cars).

Speaking of relief from cars, these hearings are coming at the right time, given that this week was a "Gridlock Alert" week (aka when the city DOT waves its white flag of surrender to the invasion of drivers rather than actually managing the roadways by restricting the access to the city's core). We asked Mayor de Blasio about doing a better job with that ... and he said he'd think about it.

In that context, it'll be fun to hear suburban car commuters complain about paying a toll to ruin our neighborhoods, pollute our air and delay the rest of us. As Charles Komanoff points out in these pages today, congestion pricing isn't a burden for drivers ... it's a bargain.

Meanwhile, Streetfilms auteur Clarence Eckerson Jr. sent us one of his favorite pro-toll videos, a classic featuring Doug Gordon. It's worth rewatching here (or below):

In other news:

    • A package of City Council bills to help delivery workers will pass today and is expected to get the mayor's signature (The City). We wrote about the package earlier this year, mostly focusing on a Justin Brannan bill that would allow delivery workers to turn down assignments by the app companies, which often make delivery workers travel vast distances or risk punishment. The ability to turn down unprofitable assignments could make roadways safer because long-suffering delivery workers would no longer have an incentive to travel at breakneck speeds.
    • The mayor said that the final phase of the four-phase Queens Boulevard project will be done a month early, which is nice (NYDN, amNY). Not to be the rat at the garden party, but the original plan called for the protected bike lane and traffic calming improvements to go way deeper into Queens. And since the fourth phase of the project was announced to Queens Community Board 6 in June, 2018, then delayed, there have been 543 crashes in just the stretch of Queens Boulevard between Yellowstone Boulevard and Union Turnpike, injuring 18 cyclists, 38 pedestrians and 105 motorists, according to city stats.
    • A prominent former Port Authority Commissioner — once an ally of ex-Gov. Cuomo — now says Gov. Hochul should kill the LaGuardia AirTrain because it is "worse than an embarrassment. It’s a waste of precious resources. It’s a boondoggle.” (NY Post)
    • The overly large city fleet is at least gradually electrifying. (amNY)
    • And here's sad news for anyone who appreciates a great New York trailblazer: Melvin Van Peebles is dead. (NY Times, NYDN)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Assembly Member Ditches Her Car — and Discovers The Good Side of Albany

"I love Albany now," says the Greenpoint lawmaker, who ditched her car. Will others follow? Well, Gov. Hochul offered a start...

May 22, 2025

Public Demands Safer West Side Highway at Packed Workshop

Seemingly all in attendance agreed that the existing bike and pedestrian path isn't cutting it and ought to be expanded.

May 22, 2025

‘The Biggest Complaint’? The Real Stories Behind NYPD Commissioner Tisch’s Bike Crackdown

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch has said cops are only targeting reckless e-bike use in six offenses along 14 key corridors. This is simply not true. Here are some stories from the front lines.

May 22, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Car-First Fifth Avenue Edition

The city's much-compromised redesign of Fifth Avenue is going to cost $550 million for some reason. Plus more news.

May 22, 2025

‘Cart Before Horse’: Upper West Siders Demand NYPD Halt Bike Crackdown

Here's a different kind of community feedback for Commissioner Tisch.

May 21, 2025

Proudly Anti-Safety: Brooklyn Pol Boasts of Getting DOT To ‘Pause’ Long Promised Bike Lanes

Even painted bike lanes are too "woke" for the MAGA warrior of Southern Brooklyn, Council Member Inna Vernikov.

May 21, 2025
See all posts