Daily News Briefs: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

MTA Spotlights Congestion Pricing's Continued Success And Industry Recognition

Yesterday, September 9, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released an update on Manhattan congestion pricing that, in New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s words, shows the CBDTP program “has been nothing short of transformational, making streets safer, reducing gridlock across the region, and unlocking generational upgrades to mass transit, benefitting millions.”

Performance metrics updated to the end of August show, among other things:

• the number of vehicles entering the congestion zone last month was 2.7 million below baseline, a 14 percent reduction that made August one of the best months so far for vehicle reduction
• traffic in the zone has fallen 12 percent overall since the program’s January start, meaning 17.6 million fewer vehicles have entered the zone compared to last year
• every crossing that’s a threshold to the zone has seen morning peak travel times reduced, in all but one case by double-digit percentages (Holland Tunnel commutes into the zone are now 36 percent faster)
• the zone is now safer, as crashes are down 14 percent and traffic injuries have fallen by 15 percent
• patronage of all modes of transit has increased on a year-over-year basis since January
• buses operate more efficiently within the zone, and there are improvements in subway and rail line services

In addition to its improvements in regional mobility and safety, the program is producing toll revenue that is funding regional transit improvements, including rail car replacements, signal modernization, station accessibility projects, and Second Avenue Subway construction.

The early success of congestion pricing is also gaining transportation industry recognition. Last week, MTA received an IBTTA Toll Excellence Award for social responsibility for launching the nation’s first cordon-based congestion pricing system in a way that demonstrates “tolling can deliver meaningful public benefits while balancing competing needs,” even in a “complex policy and regulatory environment.” IBTTA added, Through unprecedented community engagement, careful design, and a seamless rollout, New York’s CBDTP sets a new global standard for social responsibility in tolling.” In June, the Intelligent Transportation Society of New York gave MTA its 2025 Project of the Year Award for launching congestion pricing.

In his comments on MTA’s August report, board chair and CEO Janno Lieber observed, “In less than a year, New Yorkers are seeing massive benefits from congestion relief. . . . This initiative has demonstrated that government can do big things that deliver results — less traffic, safer streets, and improved quality of life for transit users, drivers and pedestrians alike.”

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IBTTA Responds To USDOT Request For Input On 2026 Federal Reauthorization Bill

User-based revenue models are “publicly and politically acceptable means to address the gap between transportation investment needs and available financial resources without burdening the federal budget,” and their use is consistent with USDOT major policy goals of enhancing safety, accelerating project delivery, promoting economic growth, and promoting partnerships.

That was the primary message the International Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) delivered in its September 8 response to a USDOT request for public transportation stakeholder input on the process of preparing the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. The association also emphasized that the new reauthorization measure, the successor to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is a “pivotal opportunity” for Congress to modernize the country’s transportation infrastructure, strengthen the national economy, and remedy the chronic Highway Trust Fund deficit.

According to an IBTTA news release, its 10-page submission focused on priorities for legislative and policy development, including:

• expanding flexibility for tolling and road pricing to allow states and localities to fund reconstruction, enhancements, and congestion management on federally regulated highways
• promoting alternatives to motor fuel taxes, such as road-use charging and mileage-based user fees, to ensure the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund
• enhancing federal investment in bridges and roadway safety, including by making toll facilities eligible for federal safety program participation
• streamlining project delivery through implementation of the One Federal Decision policy
• accelerating deployment of connected vehicle (V2X) technologies through increased funding, interoperability standards, and public-private collaboration
• strengthening resilience programs like PROTECT to protect and preserve infrastructure

IBTTA also announced that it co-signed a September 4 group letter that addressed similar themes. The letter recommending principles for the guidance of Congressional committees and administration officials working on the next reauthorization bill was endorsed by more than 60 US business, trade, and labor organizations, including AASHTO and ARTBA.

Sources: IBTTA RFI response, IBTTA news release, TRN

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Washington State DOT Tool Helps Truckers Find Parking As And When Needed

According to Washington State DOT, its new $2.3 million Truck Parking Information Management System (TPIMS) is a first-of-its-kind resource for truckers. Drivers often must plan hours ahead of time to ensure they will find a safe parking place for a mandatory work break. In addition to providing real-time information on available spots at designated state rest areas on I-5, TPIMS allows a driver to search ahead in miles or time for a stopping place. The system also has a unique feature that predicts space availability up to four hours in advance.

TPIMS is accessible via a website, a mobile app, and some commercial in-cab display systems. WSDOT developed the application in collaboration with the University of Washington’s Smart Transportation Applications and Research (STAR) Lab using Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration funding.

Source: Washington State Standard, WSDOT news release

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