In a moment when a good government can be out of reach, New York congestion pricing program Some prove to be rare and powerful: we can still do big things.
Policy debate in New York often leads to large quality from life, with every decision under a national microscope. There is no more true than the field of transport. From Celebrities showing about bike lane in town hall For viral video of subway breakdown, the transit policy here goes to provoke large reactions.
Nevertheless, I wondered that congestion pricing – a direct tolling and traffic management program – has captured such national attention. The program has already distributed tangible benefits In just six months. And despite the legal threats from the Trump administration, its hand is weak – As its own lawyers have accepted – And the indications are good that this program will continue.
As we celebrate this success, it is worth noting how we reached here.
In recent American history, congestion pricing contested the most fiercely and is definitely winning the most successful local policy. My experience of working to pass and apply it provides important lessons for the future of progressive policy setting. Because what happens here, there is rebirth at the national level, we should draw the right conclusion – not only to save it, but also to repeat it.
First, progress is possible – and the public will come around. Like the Affordable Care Act, congestion pricing was initially unpopular. It voted a lotAfter all, who wants to pay more for anything at the time of rising cost? But with the prescribed advocacy, committed leadership and initial results, Public opinion is changing In favor of the program. Even passengers from my neighborhood in North New Jersey in Manhattan are praising the program in a surprise conversation. And as -such as transit service and reliability improves, the possibility of support will increase.
Public opinion matters, but it should not stop us from acting. It should be shaped how we make a case, not us from advancing bold ideas.
Second, we need to provide rapid progress. Passed in congestion pricing law In 2019But it was not launched till this year. Why delay? In part, it was due to a multi-year environmental review and engagement process that collected thousands of comments and created a wide range of program design scenarios.
Ironically, a policy designed to cut pollution and improve transit was almost delayed by procedural delay and a process meant to reduce environmental damage.
First trump administration Review process slowed downPrevent implementation for years. Recently, New Jersey opponents Almost blocked the program in court The review from arguing was inadequate, even though it was best one in recent memory.
To be clear, the environmental review process has severely important benefits. In this case, it brought environmental justice communities to the table and received meaningful investment in pollution mitigation in places like Bronx. But the system requires improvement. Policies like congestion pricing should be given the benefit of doubt. Policy makers need a room to test new ideas and adjust them without fear of endless cases.
Third, none of these dedicated public servants would have happened. Hundreds of employees across the city, state, metropolitan transportation authority and Federal government did this, even political leaders came and left. I still remember that in 2019, sitting with Trump appointments in the US Transport Department, who asked the city and state officials to explain how the environmental review process worked – a process through which they were about to guide us.
This should not be said, but it does: The government works best when it hires the mission-driven people. Investing in public workforce is not a luxury; It is necessary to solve major problems.
Finally, the alliance wins. Yes, this transit was a long and tough fight victory for advocates. But it was also a win for widespread, diverse alliance he created. Support came from business leaders, real estate stakeholders and others in the Citizen’s Citizen’s Citizen’s Citizen’s Citizen’s Scenario. That consensus helped to increase the value of the crowd when state leaders needed to find money for rescue after MTA. Summer of Hell of 2017.
It takes time for coalition-building. This requires compromise. But it is almost always necessary to achieve permanent changes. This does not mean renunciation of our values, but this means about what the power is strategically, what they care and how to form a winning alliance.
The congestion pricing is working. It is providing cleaner air and better transit. The results must be ideal to distribute quickly, not exception. Now more than before, we need examples of real, tangible benefits to everyday people. This requires bold ideas And a clear way to make them real.
Let’s learn the correct lesson from this victory and make it easy to achieve the next.
Justin Balik is the state vice -president in Evergreen Action. He was formerly the Director of the State and Federal Affairs for the New York City Transport Department, where he worked to pass and implement congestion pricing.
