Statement from Transportation Alternatives after NYC DOT Releases Plan Ahead of Congestion Pricing’s Launch
NEW YORK — Today, the New York City Department of Transportation released a plan to prepare for congestion pricing ahead of the program’s June 30 start date. The plan comes less than two months before congestion pricing is set to begin tolling, and 10 months after Transportation Alternatives released a set of recommendations on how to prepare New York City’s streets for congestion pricing.
With extremely limited time before the launch of congestion pricing, Transportation Alternatives recommends DOT and MTA additionally and immediately enact the following measures, which can easily be implemented before June 30, to guarantee all New Yorkers experience the benefits of congestion pricing.
DOT should:
Expedite all planned projects to protect environmental justice communities, mitigating any adverse impacts.
Convert all bus lanes to 24/7 operation and paint all bus lanes red, increasing bus speeds citywide.
Reduce the speed limit on all applicable streets to 20 mph and re-time signals on all arterial streets to 20 mph citywide, making streets safer for everyone.
MTA should:
Convert car lanes on MTA bridges into exclusive bus lanes, as well as protected biking and walking lanes, to ensure everyone can use our bridges safely and efficiently.
Enact all-door boarding on all MTA buses, increasing the efficiency of bus trips.
Roll out free fares for all students and expand the fair fares program to support caregiver commutes and working parents, helping more New Yorkers find an affordable route to where they need to go.
Statement from Elizabeth Adams, Deputy Executive Director for Public Affairs at Transportation Alternatives:
“Congestion pricing is an opportunity to transform New York City for the better – bringing cleaner air, safer streets, faster public transit, and more space to everyone. This transformation demands real and visionary proposals from our city’s leaders.”
“Today’s announcement is a welcome step in the right direction, and many of these projects can and will create a more effective congestion pricing program. At the same time, the administration has had years to prepare for this and the announcement needs to go much further. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New York City and New Yorkers deserve plans, visions, and commitments that truly meet the moment.
“We look forward to our first ride on the Queensboro Bridge bike lane, the 72nd Street bike lane, and across the 34th Avenue busway – these are real, tangible improvements. We hope they’re supplemented by expansive infrastructure upgrades across the five boroughs, from protected bike lanes to car-free bus lanes to expanded ferry service, as well as policies that protect environmental justice communities and guarantee that every New Yorker feels the benefits of congestion pricing.”
“New Yorkers deserve new, efficient, and safe transportation choices from every borough traveling into the congestion pricing zone. The cameras turn on in less than two months, and we can’t afford to wait.”
