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Charles Komanoff

Charles Komanoff is a national expert on congestion pricing and traffic modeling, and is the former head of Transportation Alternatives. He is a longtime Streetsblog contributor. Reach him at komanoff@gmail.com.

Komanoff: Here’s Why the MTA Board Should Proudly Approve Congestion Pricing

The board will likely be slammed by the stragglers who will never accept the hard truths about the cost of their driving, but congestion pricing will do even better than the MTA realizes.

March 26, 2024

KOMANOFF: Mayor Adams Touts a Clean-Air Win that Hasn’t Happened

Here's what the TLC ― and the mayor ― overlooked when they decided to let thousands more Ubers and Lyfts onto our teeming, weary streets.

March 7, 2024

Komanoff: What Was Left Unsaid to Congestion Pricing Opponents

Politicians can be diplomatic, but subject matter experts have a responsibility to say the quiet part out loud. Charles Komanoff learned that last Thursday at the latest congestion pricing gripefest.

February 20, 2024

Komanoff: Get the Facts About ‘Car Bloat’ and Pollution

To deal effectively with climate we need to be clear about what’s destroying it. 

February 1, 2024

…Or Should We Soak ‘Super-Drivers’ Instead of Subsidizing Them?

Piling subsidies on subsidies, even if well-meaning, fails to rein in the full cost of driving.

January 30, 2024

Komanoff: MTA’s Three-Day Blitz on Toll Scofflaws is Not Nearly Enough

It’s awesome that a three-day sting nabbed 44 autos that had racked up $922,500 in unpaid bridge tolls and fines, but the agency needs to do more.

December 19, 2023

Komanoff: IMHO, TMRB is A-OK

Here’s what’s to like about the Traffic Mobility Review Board's central business district toll recommendations. It's a lot!

December 1, 2023

Komanoff: The Congestion Toll Solution That Could Have Been

Rest in Peace, 15-9-3. Let’s hope whatever toll rabbit the panel pulls out of the hat this month breeds contentment, not contempt.

November 16, 2023

KOMANOFF: Adams’s ‘Green Rides’ Initiative is Bad Transportation AND Climate Policy

Mayor Adams has made a bad decision to waive the de Blasio-era cap on the number of ride-hail vehicles allowed in New York City, so long as the extra cars are electric.

October 20, 2023

Komanoff: Toll Shoppers to MTA: Go Ahead, Make Our Day

Adding a congestion fee on top of the existing Midtown Tunnel toll will cause 8,000 inbound vehicle trips a day to divert onto local streets in Long Island City to access the cheaper Queensboro Bridge.

August 30, 2023