Toll authority vehicle unable to exit midtown, generates $35 in fees during meeting about fees
The System Works on Everyone
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s congestion pricing zone entered full enforcement this month, and in a development officials call “an ironic but instructive data point,” a toll authority fleet vehicle carrying three traffic engineers to a congestion management meeting became trapped in midtown for ninety minutes, accumulating $35 in charges before escaping via a bus lane it technically had permission to use but had forgotten about.
“The system worked exactly as designed,” said MTA spokesperson Gretchen Tollman. “Including on us. We consider this a trust-building moment.”
Early Data
Traffic volumes in the central business district are down 8 percent in the first month of enforcement, a figure the MTA describes as “historic progress” and taxi drivers describe as “still an absolute nightmare, just a slightly smaller nightmare.” Average speeds in midtown have increased from 4.7 mph to 5.1 mph, which the Authority notes is statistically significant and which a pedestrian named Gerald from Astoria notes he can beat on foot.
“I walk to work now,” Gerald said. “Not because of the pricing. Because the train was delayed. But I walk through the congestion zone, so I feel economically relevant.”
Revenue and Allocation
Collected revenue is allocated to MTA capital improvements, a fund the MTA says will transform the system within a decade. The engineers who were stuck in traffic have submitted a proposal suggesting the toll authority vehicles be issued transponder exemptions. The proposal is under review. They are currently taking the train to the review meeting, which is delayed.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com