- Evidence Of Congestion Pricing's Impact Mounts
- Maine Bill Would Replace Vehicle Excise Tax With Mileage-Based Road Use Fee
- New York Marks First Anniversary Of Interagency “Ghost Car” Enforcement Campaign
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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Evidence Of Congestion Pricing's Impact Mounts
In the midst of federal-state conflict over MTA congestion pricing, NorthJersey.com looks at the program’s early impact on regional mobility. The outlook is cheerier on the New York side of the Hudson River. MTA officials and Governor Kathy Hochul point to data showing congestion zone traffic was down nine percent in January with half as many crashes. They also say more people are traveling to the central business district and the theatre district despite the drop in auto traffic.
Operators of New Jersey-based systems acknowledge recent travel behavior shifts but are reluctant to attribute those changes to the introduction of congestion zone tolling. For example, PANYNJ’s PATH trains had a 10 percent increase in ridership in January compared to the same period of 2024, “with the largest increases at four stations in the congestion pricing zone.” Nevertheless, a spokesperson tells NorthJersey.com it’s too early to determine the reason, noting transit ridership has been growing since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. NJ Transit recorded patronage increases and faster bus services in January, but its CEO told reporters last month, “The jury is still out on whether people in New Jersey are behaving a little bit differently on the congestion pricing than perhaps people in Westchester, Long Island and Staten Island, but let’s see what happens.”
Streetsblog NYC reports, “Foot traffic in Manhattan south of 60th Street stayed strong in February this year, outpacing last year’s total visitors to lower Manhattan despite colder temperatures, according to data collected by the city — defying congestion pricing skeptics like President Trump and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo who have suggested the new toll would discourage people from coming into Manhattan.” The city Economic Development Corporation data also reveal increases in people commuting to work in the congestion zone, subway ridership, and Manhattan retail sales.
In a separate article, Streetsblog reports, “Buses are moving faster in and around New York City ever since congestion pricing kicked in, according to transit officials — who have started tweaking MTA schedules to reflect the Big Apple’s lower traffic.” MTA’s New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said this week the reduction of congestion zone traffic is having ripple effects in suburban counties in both New York State and New Jersey.
The federal-state environmental assessment of congestion pricing predicted toll avoidance would prompt some commercial truckers to shift to routes through the Bronx or Staten Island. The potential for increased pollution in those boroughs induced MTA to budget $330 million for mitigation measures. But, so far, “the predicted spillover simply hasn’t happened,” Streetsblog NYC reports, citing data analysis by prominent traffic engineer Sam Schwartz. He and a team of assistants studied January and February truck traffic data and found it “did not increase on the Verrazzano Bridge or any of the MTA’s bridges leading to the Bronx.” Schwartz says he sees “no evidence that the forecasts that the MTA had for hundreds or even thousands of trucks diverting through the Bronx [have] happened.”
Congestion Pricing Economic & Social Considerations Affecting Transportation Environmental Protection Policies Procedures And Initiatives New Jersey New York New York City NJ Transit Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ)Maine Bill Would Replace Vehicle Excise Tax With Mileage-Based Road Use Fee
A Republican-sponsored bill in Maine would phase out the state’s vehicle excise tax over the next five years, Maine Wire reports. In its place, a road usage charge — 1 cent per mile for most drivers — would be instituted starting July 1, 2027. LD 1194 includes discounts for seniors and low-income drivers. Electric and hybrid vehicles, meanwhile, would be subject to a flat annual fee. The revenue would be funneled to the state and municipalities through a newly created Maine Transportation Fund.
The legislation proposes having mileage self-reported by drivers or submitted by mechanics as part of the annual vehicle inspection process. Annual inspections, however, are targeted by other bills seeking to reduce their frequency or eliminate them altogether.
Company and Agency Financial Issues And Reports Maine Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) Road Use Charging (RUC-MBUF-VMT)New York Marks First Anniversary Of Interagency “Ghost Car” Enforcement Campaign
Since its March 11, 2024, start, an interagency team of local, state, and federal law enforcement officers has conducted “73 toll enforcement operations, resulting in 902 arrests, more than 39,000 summonses and 4,073 interdicted vehicles for suspended registrations and fraudulent, obstructed or altered license plates,” the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced yesterday. The police departments of New York’s Nassau and Westchester Counties are the latest to join the campaign, which includes, among other agencies, MTA Bridges and Tunnels Police, PANYNJ Police, the New York City Police Department, the state Department of Motor Vehicles, the New York City Business Integrity Commission, and US Park Police.
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) commented, “The newest data released by our city-state task force on the removal of ghost cars sends a clear message: if you attempt to alter your license plate to avoid traffic cameras and toll readers, you will be caught.”
AET (All-Electronic Tolling) ETC Systems Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New Jersey New York New York City Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) ScofflawsThese are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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