In a moment when good government can feel out of reach, New York’s congestion pricing program proves something rare and powerful: We can still do big things. Policy debates in New York often take on a larger-than-life quality, with every decision under a national microscope. Nowhere is that more true than in the area of transportation. From celebrities showing up at town halls about bike lanes to viral videos of subway breakdowns, transit policy here tends to provoke big reactions.
Still, I was surprised that congestion pricing — a straightforward tolling and traffic management program — has captured such national attention. The program has already delivered tangible benefits in just six months. And despite legal threats from the Trump administration, its hand is weak — as its own attorneys have admitted — and the signs are good that this program will continue.
As we celebrate this success, it’s worth reflecting on how we got here…