NY Republicans say Trump will end NYC congestion pricing after 'productive meeting'
NEW YORK CITY - Some Republicans in New York say they have faith that NYC congestion pricing won't last long following a "productive meeting" this weekend with President-elect Donald Trump in Florida.
What we know:
The group of lawmakers, which included representatives Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota, Andrew Garbarino and Nicole Malliotakis, say Trump said he promised to kill the plan, something he was quite open against even before it went into effect.
Track breaking congestion pricing news and local headlines on the FOX LOCAL app. Click here to download on iPhone and here to download on Android.
'Complete overhaul'
What they're saying:
"A productive meeting with President @realDonaldTrump about ending the illegal immigration crisis, providing SALT relief & stopping #NYC congestion pricing and more! Looking forward to January 20!" Malliotakis said in a post on "X".
On Sunday night, Lawler went on Fox News, where he broke down the meeting and said why he and other lawmakers are so determined to kill the tolling program.
"The MTA has more debt than 80% of the states," Lawler said. "The fact is this or entity, this authority, needs a complete overhaul. Congestion pricing needs to be stopped. Kathy Hochul is charging New York residents $2,500 just for the privilege to commute to work."
Featured
Is NYC congestion pricing working? What we've learned one week in
The first workweek of congestion pricing in New York City is wrapping up, with both drivers and pedestrians adjusting to the new $9 toll.
Big picture view:
According to the lawmakers, the president-elect said they are working on how the administration will be able to get rid of congestion pricing.
Is NYC congestion pricing working?
Impact on the roads
What we know:
Congestion pricing aims to reduce traffic by imposing tolls on vehicles entering Manhattan’s business district. So far, early observations indicate some success in decreasing congestion. Pedestrians say they have noted lighter traffic, particularly on streets like 2nd Avenue and East 60th Street, near the congestion zone boundary.
Featured
NYC congestion pricing in effect: Drivers' guide for map, costs and exemptions
The landmark initiative, which began on Sunday, is designed to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and raise funds for much-needed public transit upgrades.
According to the MTA, weekday subway ridership has climbed, with 3.8 million riders recorded on Wednesday, up more than 7.8% compared to the same day last year. Bus ridership also saw a 4% increase year-over-year.
The Moshes brothers, creators of "Congestion Pricing Tracker," are attempting to analyze the changes in traffic times. For example, the Lincoln Tunnel now reports average crossing times of just 3-4 minutes, compared to 10 minutes before the tolls. Similarly, the Queensboro Bridge is experiencing historically fast crossing times.
Will changes last?
What we don't know:
While the congestion zone itself appears to have lighter traffic, some commuters are questioning whether the traffic has simply shifted to surrounding areas.
Data from the Moshes brothers suggests that routes going through the congestion zone haven’t seen substantial changes in traffic flow.
What's next:
The congestion pricing initiative is still in its early stages, and more data will be needed to evaluate its long-term impact. While the toll has repelled some drivers, questions remain about whether the changes are sustainable or if additional measures will be required.
It's also unclear if public transit saw increased ridership on other systems like NJ Transit, LIRR or PATH trains.