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

Monday’s Headlines: Congestion Ahead Edition

Good news: We're not going to start our week with our typical ascent on our long-legged steed to criticize the Times for its flawed, car-centric coverage. Plus other news.

Photo: Josh Katz|

The Times offered insights from other cities on congestion pricing.

We're not going to start our week with our typical ascent on our long-legged steed to criticize the Times for its flawed, car-centric coverage.

In fact, we enjoyed the team reporting that Winnie Hu, Ana Ley, Stephen Castle and Christina Anderson offered in a long Sunday takeout about how successful congestion pricing has been in three major cities: London, Stockholm and Singapore.

Of course, we could quibble (whoa, Nellie, simmer down there, girl) with the paper's overall tone that congestion pricing is somehow controversial (when, indeed, bridge and tunnel tolls are not). And we would obviously point out that lines like this should not be parenthetical asides, but main thrusts: "The congestion tax ... has raised millions of dollars for building roads and highways, expanding the subway system and making other investments in public transit, city officials said." Um, that's kinda the point, not a tiny afterthought.

But like we said, the piece included solid reporting, including how New York could benefit from learning from London's mixed experience (business drivers kept on driving or switched to Ubers because their firms paid the fee or because cabs weren't properly tolled, for example).

That said, Komanoff had a two-part takedown:

Also, Ley and Hu's use of the term "congestion tax" is intentionally sensational. This is a toll. There are tolls everywhere. No one says, "I'm paying the Triboro Bridge tax." (That said, perhaps the Times was trying to stay ahead of the story; the Post reported that the GOP "can't wait" to turn the Democrats into "the party of congestion pricing." Of course, once everyone sees how awesome congestion pricing is, that could backfire on Republicans.)

Plus, the Paper of Record should have linked to my column from late Friday about what a terrible job our mayor is doing at championing the policy he claims to strongly support.

On the plus side, the Times didn't link to former Council Member Kathryn Freed's inaccurate, short-sighted and disjointed op-ed in the Village Sun that took the Jersey-eye view on congestion pricing.

In other news:

  • Former federal transit man wants the MTA to share some congestion pricing revenue with New Jersey. (Mass Transit)
  • Hey, Mayor Adams, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla is eating your lunch on street safety. (Bloomberg)
  • Speaking of which, Curbed reminded Adams that promising to daylight 1,000 intersections is nice, but only concrete will keep drivers from parking there anyway.
  • "Open-air drug market"? The Post examines a Bronx subway station.
  • The actor Michael B. Jordan apparently smashed up his fancy car in LA, the Post reported. He's OK.
  • Speaking of car crashes, here's a story about a driver whose car seemed to go out of its way to injure him! I mean, really, this is an object lesson on how not to write a news story about a reckless driver. (NYDN)
  • Also, there was a massive crash on the LIE. (NY Post)
  • More noise cameras are coming soon. (NY Post)
  • A man swiped a moped then used it to hit a cop and flee on the Upper West Side. (amNY)
  • Meanwhile, a driver killed a moped rider in a road rage incident. (Bronx Times)
  • The feds are helping the city electrify the Governors Island ferry. (NYDN)
  • The Fifth Avenue open street got off to a soggy start on Sunday. But it'll be back next Sunday and the Sunday after that for safe pedestrian travel and tree-peeping. (NYDN)
  • And, finally, it's time to a) remind you that our annual fundraising drive continues and b) praise by name all the people who gave to us over the weekend. It's a lengthy list for a weekend, which is a reminder that people have really been answering the call — and we can't wait to list your name on this list next (hint). For now, thanks, Laurence! Thanks, Johanna! Thanks, Lacey! Thanks, Thomas! Thanks, Mark!
It's our monthly donation drive!Click here to donate

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause

A Brooklyn Council member wants delivery app companies to be more human and less robot.

July 18, 2025

Friday Video: Is Berlin a Great Biking City?

Have recent moves by anti-bike, pro-car legislators ruined the experience in the capital of a unified Germany? Sort of!

July 18, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Meeker Avenue Bike Lane Is a Failure

The Department of Transportation still hasn't finished a critical bike lane under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that the agency has been stalling for over four years even after identifying the strip's danger and lack of proper signals.

July 18, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition

Why does Andrew Cuomo drive so recklessly? Plus other news.

July 18, 2025

Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off

Mayor Adams has delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue despite once saying safety fixes there should be "at the top of our list."

July 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Jerry Nadler Edition

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler faced off with Sean Duffy on Capitol Hill. Plus more news.

July 17, 2025
See all posts