A decade ago, NYC Mayor Bloomberg began to move forward with a plan to implement congestion charging, an effective TDM policy, in Manhattan. The plan would have limited the influx of cars into the already-gridlocked island with a simple $8 charge for all cars traveling in the borough. So what happened? Writes WRI’s Jacob Sacks:
Most of the Assembly’s opposition stemmed from members representing the outer boroughs of the city (Queens and Brooklyn), highlighting the financial impact on people (although only 5 percent of residents commute by car and would pay the congestion charge). Their main arguments included the feasibility of using public transit as an efficient alternative to driving, the cost-benefit of saving time driving versus the charge and looking at congestion charging as a realistic means to decrease city congestion.
The plan gained support through a strategy developed by the Mayor, key constituents, elected officials and advocacy groups. There was extensive public outreach and involvement to connect the benefits of congestion charging to improving transportation options and achieving sustainability goals. In the end, however, this strategy wasn’t enough. For a congestion charging proposal to pass, it is critical to persuade elected officials, for they hold the vote. In New York City, many small interest groups have the ability to influence the decisions of elected officials, but, in this case, there was an apparent lack of communication.
WRI’s CityFix has also featured number of other international TDM case studies. Read about TDM initiatives in London and China here.