The cost of congestion pricing will be borne by drivers also from New Jersey, Long Island, Staten Island, and Manhattan. Fee based financing places the fees on the users rather than the general public.

Rather than tax people including those who choose to not travel by car into southern Manhattan it increases the burden on those using the roads there. The pricing is likely to shift some traffic away, quickly reducing travel time of those paying. I would expect users paying will see some benefits immediately.

Congestion pricing has never been seen as the sole solution but is part of a comprehensive approach. It is not the only alternative solution. For example, Citi Bike is now the nation’s latest bicycle rental program. Bicycle parking is embedded into the zoning codes too. Congestion pricing will fund many of the other alternatives that would otherwise be delayed or require other less user oriented financing. One needs to look at the long range Comprehensive Transportation Plans and short term Transportation Improvement Plans to see part of the overall comprehensive planning and investment approach that has been ongoing for decades.

We can agree that no one wants to pay more taxes and no one wants to be stuck in traffic.