All We’ve Lost: Congestion Pricing Should Have Started June 30
Let's take stock of what we've lost because the MTA's central business district cameras are not tolling drivers.
By
Streetsblog
12:00 AM EDT on June 30, 2024
Congestion pricing should have started at the moment when this story was posted: 12:00:01 a.m. on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
It’s time to take stock of what we’ve lost because the MTA’s central business district cameras are not tolling drivers $15 during peak hours and $3.75 off-peak. Let’s review with the help of the Streetsblog Graphic Desk:
- Tolling was set to raise roughly $1 billion per year — or roughly $31 per second on average.
- Tolling was supposed to remove 153,000 cars every day from the central business district — or 1.78 cars per second.
- Tolling was supposed to eliminate more than 5.14 billion pounds of carbon dioxide entering our air every year — or 162 pounds per second.
- Tolling was supposed to reduce congestion and save New Yorkers a collective 14.6 million hours of time stuck in traffic.
So enjoy our graphic representation. And share it with your friends, loved ones … and state legislators (find your Assembly member here and your Senator here).
This piece was the work of the Streetsblog staff.
Read More:
More from Streetsblog New York City
Opinion: Sean Duffy’s ‘Golden Age’ of Dangerous Streets
Sean Duffy is calling for a "golden age" of civility in American travel. He should start by ending barbaric policies that get people killed on the ground and in the skies.
Ethan Andersen
December 15, 2025
‘I’m Always on the Bus’: How Transit Advocacy Helped Katie Wilson Become Seattle’s Next Mayor
"I really think that our public transit system is such a big part of people's daily experience of government," says the incoming mayor of the Emerald City.
December 12, 2025
Watchdog Wants Hochul To Nix Bus Lane Enforcement Freebies for MTA Drivers
Lawmakers think the bill prevents MTA employees from getting a "slap in the face" for doing their jobs, but it could open the door to abuse.
December 11, 2025
More Truck Routes Are Coming To A Street Near You
The DOT wants to rein in freight trucks by adding more than 45 miles to the city’s existing network of truck routes.
December 11, 2025
Upstate County’s New Bus Service Will Turn A Transit Desert Into A Rural Network
Jefferson County was one of the few counties in New York without a bus service. Now job seekers and students will have previously unfathomable options in their North Country communities.
December 11, 2025
Comments Are Temporarily Disabled
Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.
Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.