Polly Trottenberg

Calling congestion "self-correcting" is a convenient way to steer the subject away from congestion pricing. The argument is that drivers can bail when congestion "gets bad enough." Problem solved -- without collective (governmental) action requiring political leadership. Let's unpack that.

In light of a new legal analysis that concluded NYC can toll its own streets without waiting for Albany, the Move New York campaign has proposed a "home rule" version of its road pricing plan that would charge $2.75 to drive across the four East River bridges and a 60th Street cordon and tax for-hire vehicle and taxi trips in the densest parts of Manhattan. But despite a supportive City Council, the de Blasio administration isn't adding road pricing to its agenda.

Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg was in the Bronx yesterday to tout safety improvements on the Grand Concourse, historically one of the borough's most dangerous streets for walking and biking. But a lot more needs to change on the Grand Concourse, which still lacks safe, continuous bikeways and treatments to speed up trips for bus riders.

Bike-share operator Motivate is in talks with the city to increase the bicycles in its system by another 50 percent after the current round of expansion wraps up this year, including stations in the Bronx and Staten Island. City Hall would not contribute funds but would grant Motivate more favorable terms in its contract with the city.

Despite the overcast skies and drizzle, New Yorkers flocked to car-free streets in four boroughs on Saturday, the second year the city has marked Earth Day by turning over streets to people.

While public awareness of New York's high transit construction costs has been growing in fits and starts, action to address the problem has been lacking. And that won't change until there are clear consequences for the people in charge.

To ring in the spring construction season, Mayor de Blasio previewed City Hall's street safety priorities in the year ahead. De Blasio noted that to date, the city has relied on $100 million in federal funds for Vision Zero projects, and that the Trump administration's federal budget outline could slow the pace of street redesigns.

In the four months after DOT and the NYPD launched the "dusk and darkness" traffic enforcement and education campaign, traffic fatalities dropped 26 percent compared to the previous year, the agencies announced this morning.

The dangerous five-legged intersection of Northern Boulevard, 34th Avenue, and 48th Street has a new pedestrian island, sidewalk extension, and crosswalks. Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg joined Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer on Friday to unveil the improvements.