President Trump's decision to end congestion pricing presents a new challenge — one that Streetsblog will be chronicling every step of the way.
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The big news on Wednesday was that Quinnipiac put out a poll that shows that Andrew Cuomo is running away with the mayor's race already — and that Mayor Adams's approval rating is lower than a cow's opinion of steak au poivre.
The poll also showed terrible numbers for Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is expected to get into the mayoral race today, Politico reported (good luck with that!).
But if you want news about the mayor's race, read the poll itself, because we're here to tell you about the good news: Congestion pricing is leaving the Valley of Political Death!
You know about the valley, right? It's that well-documented place where all congestion pricing schemes — from London to Stockholm to Singapore — briefly dwelled in the period between the tolls were approved ("Boo!" screamed the drivers) and when they went into effect ("Boo!" screamed the drivers).
Of course, we all know what happens: Drivers see that the toll is a small price to pay for much smoother commutes and predictable arrival times. And within a few weeks or months, the polls are so popular that no one questions them anymore.
We're not there yet, but the latest Q poll has some good news: On the straight-up question of whether voters support or oppose congestion pricing, 41 percent said they like the toll and 54 percent said they don't like it. That 13-point gap is still large, but narrowing. Back in December, Siena put out a poll showing that only 29 percent supported Gov. Hochul's decision to start the toll and 51 percent opposed it — a 22-point gap.
More important: In the new poll, a majority of Staten Islanders who offered an opinion support congestion pricing, by a margin of 49 to 46 percent (5 percent didn't know). That's a huge swing, considering that virtually all of the Island's elected officials are still fighting to stop it.
What does that tell us? It tells us that people who drive into the city from Staten Island — or take express buses — are already seeing the benefit of congestion pricing. (And the poll also showed that 49 percent don't want President Trump to end congestion pricing vs. 45 percent who do.)
Meanwhile, Gov. Hochul went on the offensive to champion the toll, putting out a video that beautifully mocked U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's earlier version decrying the toll as a tax on the working class. (We can't embed tweets because our platform is lame, so click the picture below to watch the state's official takedown of Duffy.)
In other news:
- Speaking of congestion pricing, it's good for your health! (The City)
- Hell Gate had the definitive take on Mayor Adams's testimony in Congress on Wednesday: "Mayor Adams Forced to Sit Next to Competent Mayors, Gets Grilled by Congressional Democrats."
- Thanks (sort of) to Sarah Feinberg for linking to Nolan Hick's recent investigation into subway safety in her Vital City piece (though Feinberg could have name-checked us or Hicks instead of making a blind link).
- Speaking of the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue stop, the cosplaying Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the sprawling terminus to pose for some pictures (she also didn't mention Streetsblog's investigation). (NY Post)
- Finally, the New York Times broke the story that I've been talking about for weeks: The air is saltier than a drunken sailor at the Blue and Gold. But, I swear, I've been on this story. Just check out my text exchange with a Sanitation Department source of mine back in January:
- "Don't blame me! I bought my Tesla before Elon went crazy." Yeah, right. (NYDN)
- Another architect, another plan for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. (Brooklyn Eagle)
- The DOT's Sixth Avenue bike lane got some love from amNY.
- Law and order for thee, not me: Cops say House Speaker Mike Johnson's chief of staff drove drunk after President Trump's speech on Tuesday night. (NY Post)
- Crime is down in New York City, but the real feel is still high. (Gothamist)
- Car makers got a one-month reprieve from Trump's tariffs. (NY Times)
