New York City - Transit News

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by Crawford

Congestion pricing is a huge winner. I know it's early, but so far, the available data suggest that congestion pricing assumptions were spot-on.

Here's the MTA ridership data for last Tuesday, compared to the same Tuesday last year:

Subway: +400,000
MTA Bus: +80,000
LIRR: +30,000
Metro North: +30,000

https://new.mta.info/press-release/trans...-live-wnycs-brian-lehrer-show-friday-jan

That's a 540,000 increase, not including NJT bus and rail, all the ferry providers, private bus providers, etc. Granted, it isn't 100% congestion pricing, as ridership has generally grown somewhat, but congestion pricing is likely a big piece.

Also, bus speeds in Manhattan almost all increased last week.

So far, congestion pricing is working exactly as promised. And no, it isn't the weather, as seen with the huge increase in transit ridership last week.

A 400k increase in daily subway ridership is amazing for one year regardless of the cause. Especially considering that there's currently only 3 rail systems in the US that exceed 400k in total daily ridership according to wiki's "List of United States rapid transit systems" page.

[Crawford]

It's funny watching the anti-congestion pricing narrative shift from "congestion pricing will never work" to "congestion pricing will work too well". I'm seeing lots of social media complaints that subways, commuter trains, ferries and buses are busier now. Even got such a complaint from a coworker.

Apparently the drivers are only being militant obstructionists bc they feel for the transit riders. What selflessness!

[mrnyc]

43K fewer drivers on Manhattan roads after congestion pricing turned on, MTA says

By Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Jan 13, 2025


The launch of congestion pricing led to some 43,000 fewer drivers on average entering Manhattan below 60th Street each weekday last week than would be typical for that time of January, according to data released by the MTA on Monday. The data comes just over a week after the tolls went live.

The decline in traffic only amounts to a 7.5% reduction compared to projections based on Januarys from the last few years, before congestion pricing was activated. Under the projections, an average of 583,000 drivers would enter the toll zone each day. But such a reduction, many people in Manhattan have observed, can be the difference between flowing traffic and gridlock.

“It has been a very good week here in New York,” MTA deputy chief Juliette Michaelson said at a news conference. She cautioned that congestion pricing had only been in effect for eight days and that traffic patterns could change.

Traffic times on all inbound crossings — like the Williamsburg Bridge and the Holland Tunnel — have decreased between 30% to 40% on average, particularly during the morning commute, according to the MTA’s data.


more:
https://gothamist.com/news/43k-fewer-dri...er-congestion-pricing-turned-on-mta-says

[mrnyc]

the new open gangway R211T and the triplex history —


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DExR5YhOIt8/?igsh=MWVkdG94Z2dhdzh6YQ==

[mrnyc]

good —



Feds give Port Authority $1.9B loan for new Midtown Bus Terminal as Biden leaves office

By Liam Quigley
Published Jan 14, 2025


The federal government on Tuesday issued the Port Authority a major loan that allows work to proceed on the planned replacement of the decrepit Midtown Bus Terminal, less than a week before the end of President Joe Biden’s term.

The loan sends roughly $1.9 billion to the agency. Since the presidential election in November, Port Authority officials have raced to secure the money, fearing President-elect Donald Trump would nix it after taking office.

Along with $3 billion approved through the Port Authority’s 10-year construction plan, the loan covers about half of the new bus terminal’s $10 billion expected price tag.

Officials plan to replace the shabby old bus terminal built in 1950 with a new, light-filled space that can handle more riders. They hope to open the 2-million-square-foot facility to the public in 2032.


more:
https://gothamist.com/news/feds-give-por...town-bus-terminal-as-biden-leaves-office

[mrnyc]

lirr switch heaters in action —


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFBtjfZxRel/?igsh=MWZtbzd2aWw1emxqMg==

[202_Cyclist]

New York’s Congestion Pricing Is Working. Now Comes the Real Test.
Commute times are down, and subway numbers are up. But the conservative attacks have not stopped.

By Liza Featherstone
New Republic
Jan. 21, 2025

"Congestion pricing has been decades in the making, a drama featuring lawsuits, outrage, and even a weird last-minute temporary cancellation by the governor earlier this year. Republican politicians and right-wing media have plainly been staking their futures on the opposition, which has included random motorists, restaurant owners, some major labor unions, and the governor of New Jersey. Ruin and chaos have been forecast. Yet now, two weeks in, all evidence suggests it is working. Indeed, New York City’s congestion pricing, which began this month, might already be one of the most effective climate policies ever enacted in the United States.

The congestion pricing model is simple: Charging a toll to enter the city center gets cars off the road—improving traffic while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other toxic pollutants from our atmosphere—while raising revenue for the public transit system. More public transit funding on its own would help decarbonize our society simply by strengthening this alternative to cars. But the penalty for driving is congestion pricing’s chef’s kiss: It gives many commuters the push they need to get out of their vehicles and get on the train..."

https://newrepublic.com/article/190392/new-york-congestion-pricing-working-traffic

[Crawford]

Congestion pricing is working exactly as intended.

Let the right wingers whine. I bet you many conservative-leaning businesses are very happy they're battling less congestion. Anyone servicing Manhattan-based businesses or homes is spending more time billing clients and less time in traffic.

[mrnyc]

how to beat the toll —


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFF97mIxqBu/?igsh=MWQ2ZzUzamRzc3p1dg==

[Busy Bee]

^This idiot seems to think he's a genius for figuring out some supposed secret or something. Yeah, if you don't turn south and go below 60th St you don't pay a toll. Amazing how that works.

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

^This idiot seems to think he's a genius for figuring out some supposed secret or something. Yeah, if you don't turn south and go below 60th St you don't pay a toll. Amazing how that works.

ha yeah — but now i think he meant to just get in the city w/o paying — which to be fair is tricky.

[mrnyc]

just another day —


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFGPlI1Jcwy/?igsh=MWl0ZTdtMDV3ZnV2NQ==

[dchan]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

^This idiot seems to think he's a genius for figuring out some supposed secret or something. Yeah, if you don't turn south and go below 60th St you don't pay a toll. Amazing how that works.

He also claims you will get a toll if you turn right on 62 St, which is false.

Meanwhile, my method of reducing (but not eliminating) the toll for the day is to drive into the toll zone after midnight and then immediately drive back. Takes about 5-10 minutes depending on the traffic light settings, but it saves me $6.75.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by dchan

Meanwhile, my method of reducing (but not eliminating) the toll for the day is to drive into the toll zone after midnight and then immediately drive back. Takes about 5-10 minutes depending on the traffic light settings, but it saves me $6.75.

That's crafty. I didn't think of that.

I'm sure the designers did, but figured most people would value the time issue more than the few dollars saved, but who knows. Wonder if a lot of drivers are doing the same.

It would likely be limited to drivers in a very specific geography near the tolling boundaries and who have reserved garage parking and no issues with short late-nite drive.

[Busy Bee]

Still sad and pathetic someone would need to be right this bad.

[dchan]

Originally Posted by Crawford

That's crafty. I didn't think of that.

I'm sure the designers did, but figured most people would value the time issue more than the few dollars saved, but who knows. Wonder if a lot of drivers are doing the same.

It would likely be limited to drivers in a very specific geography near the tolling boundaries and who have reserved garage parking and no issues with short late-nite drive.

This tactic is likely limited to those who live close to the CRZ cameras and don't have an issue with finding overnight street parking again. So it generally works ok for me for the days I use my car.

And as you said, this tactic doesn't make as much sense if you live farther out.

[mrnyc]

old subway cars heading for the scrapper —


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEdFA9Vvmik/?igsh=MWo0ajZxNDNxcnZ4Mw==

[mrnyc]

maybe not this way exactly, but, err …




Trump hasn’t 'TERMINATED' congestion pricing in NYC ... yet.

By Stephen Nessen
Published Jan 24, 2025


…
So how could Trump kill congestion pricing? It’s unclear if he actually has the legal authority to cancel the tolls through an executive order. The tolls could be ended through an act of Congress, as some New York Republicans have suggested. To fend off any politicking over the program, its supporters think the MTA should aggressively highlight its early success in reducing gridlock in Manhattan.

“I think it's still an open risk that the administration will try to interfere with congestion pricing,” Nicole Gelinas with the Manhattan Institute told Gothamist. “The state doesn't have a lot of time to prove to a broad array of New Yorkers — not just people within Manhattan, or commuting by bus to Manhattan — that it's working so well that it should be immune from any political interference.”

Even if Trump stays out of the congestion pricing fight, history shows his administration will be unfriendly to the MTA.


more:
https://gothamist.com/news/trump-hasnt-terminated-congestion-pricing-in-nyc-yet

[mrnyc]

track business upgrades, new platform & stairwells?

bet this upcoming station closure is longer than 25 days —



Hoboken PATH Station to close for 25 days amid $430 million restoration project

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Tuesday, January 21, 2025

more:
https://abc7ny.com/post/hoboken-path-sta...30-million-restoration-project/15822266/

[mrnyc]

yerp —


Congestion pricing continuing to bring fewer cars into Manhattan, MTA data finds

By Barbara Russo-Lennon
Posted on January 26, 2025


Now in its third week, congestion pricing in NYC has continued to reduce traffic into Manhattan, according to updated data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

The program, which launched on Jan. 5, saw an overall 7.5% reduction in traffic within the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ) south of and including 61st Street throughout the week of Jan. 5. Similar results continued into the week of Jan. 13, with fewer cars penetrating the CRZ each day.

According to MTA data, there was an average of 26,619 fewer vehicles on the road in Manhattan from Monday, Jan. 13, through Friday, Jan. 17, for a total of 133,097 fewer vehicles over the course of the week.


more:
https://www.amny.com/nyc-transit/congestion-pricing-manhattan-traffic-data-01172025/


Cars pass under the toll gantries at the Manhattan Bridge amid congestion pricing in New York on Jan. 7, 2025. Photo by Dean Moses