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Notes -
Here's something we haven't talked about yet: congestion pricing.
Recently, New York's congestion pricing scheme went live. Drivers who wish to enter lower Manhattan must pay a toll of $9. Almost immediately after the toll went live, traffic congestion got a lot better.
From an economics standpoint, the toll has been a big success. Consider, for a minute, the perspective of a person who is willing to wait an hour in traffic, but is not willing to wait 15 minutes plus pay $9. In a world of rational actors, this person should not exist. But in the real world, this person in fact does exist in great numbers. Not only that, but their irrational choice is also clogging up traffic for everyone else, as well as increasing pollution. From a standpoint of utility, there is no question that this program increases the overall utility of the city's transportation system.
There's also the money aspect. This toll raises money for a city that is chronically short of it – despite having some of the highest per-capita taxation in the world. In an ideal world, the additional funds would be used to build out more transportation infrastructure. In reality, the new taxes will end up in the bottomless pit of graft that grips the city.
A few takes I've seen:
This will increase traffic outside the zone as much as it decreases it in the zone. Personally, I doubt this. Near me, when the 520 bridge was tolled, it reduced traffic on the bridge without increasing it too much elsewhere.
This is unfair because it prices out the working class people who drive into Manhattan.
This is unfair because it forces people to take the subways and the subways are full of murderous lunatics.
The city has substituted new taxes for actually, you know, building stuff. The fact that city planning geeks are celebrating this shows how small our ambitions have become. The biggest infrastructure projects now are just... more taxes?
One take I haven't seen but is relevant:
Will people cheat? Here in Seattle, people drive without license plates, have fake temporary ones, register in different states, and put covers over their plates which make them invisible to cameras. You cannot be pulled over for this, so it's basically an honor system. I assume NYC will be similar.
What do people think about these new taxes? Good or bad?
The improvements, if they indeed exist, have not been that great. More like 5 minutes than 45.
This appears to have happened. Traffic on some routes have gotten worse (based on the same data showing improvement on other routes, so all very preliminary)
It's pretty much a money grab for the MTA. The various unions will see the extra money and go on strike until it's diverted to them. No subway improvement will result, nor will congestion materially decline. Drivers will be pissed that they have to pay more and MTA union workers will be happier.
Congestion has already materially declined.
You mean because a few chosen routes show 5-6 minute reduction in travel times? On the first Sunday of the year, compared to other Sundays? Come on, at least demonstrate a little skepticism.
Sure, let's be skeptical. Let's look at the data. Flipping through some arbitrary affected commute routes (that start from outside the zone and go into it) on weekdays, there's a notable difference in commute times before and after congestion pricing.
Let's come at this the other way. What evidence would convince you that congestion pricing reduces commute times?
I went into that data prepared to agree with you and I'm not seeing that big of a difference. Set it to Tuesday and flip through the routes labeled "Affected" and they seem barely changed. I personally would be much more annoyed paying $9 every day than pleased by the 5% improvement in transit time. The hedonic treadmill will make you forget all about the benefit of lessened traffic but you'll get to experience the annoyance at the toll every single day you pay it.
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