It’s disappointing to see the overwhelmingly negative coverage surrounding congestion pricing, particularly from platforms like YWN. While it’s understandable that any new fee is met with resistance—after all, few people welcome the idea of paying more—there seems to be a glaring omission in the broader conversation. The tangible benefits of congestion pricing have been largely overlooked.
This week alone, traffic levels in Manhattan have noticeably decreased compared to just last week. Anyone who commutes regularly can attest to the frustration of inching along the city’s congested roads, wasting valuable time and energy. Fewer cars on the road translate directly to faster, smoother commutes. The result? Less time spent stuck in traffic and more time where it matters—at home, with family.
Critics argue that congestion pricing is an unfair financial burden, but let’s put that in perspective. The majority of people commuting into Manhattan for work earn well over $100 an hour. For them, an additional $9 toll pales in comparison to the potential time saved—approximately 20 minutes shaved off their commute. Is it not worth exchanging half the cost of a shnitzel sandwich for the ability to reclaim precious moments at the end of the day?
More importantly, congestion pricing isn’t just about the financial cost. It’s about quality of life. Commuters stand to gain more than just dollars and cents; they gain time. After a grueling workday, who wouldn’t pay $9 to get home faster, unwind, and spend more time with loved ones? We often speak about the importance of work-life balance, yet balk at the very measures designed to improve it.
Also consider the broader public transit system. Congestion pricing generates much-needed revenue that can be reinvested in improving New York’s subways, buses, and commuter rails. A robust, efficient public transportation network benefits everyone, even those who drive regularly. The alternative—letting traffic continue to spiral out of control—serves no one.
It’s natural to be skeptical of new policies, but knee-jerk opposition without considering the benefits is short-sighted. Congestion pricing is not merely another tax; it’s a forward-thinking strategy aimed at addressing one of the most persistent challenges of city life. While no plan is perfect, this is a necessary step toward creating a more efficient, livable New York City.
Instead of focusing exclusively on the negatives, let’s broaden the conversation. Congestion pricing isn’t just about the money—it’s about making our lives better, our commutes faster, and our city more sustainable. Isn’t that worth the investment?
Signed,
Yaakov
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18 Responses
How about enforcing those thousands of turnstile jumpers and making them pay every day, and using that money to develop a robust mass transit system; instead of encouraging crime by looking the other way all the time.
What about for those of us who live in the “congestion zone”. Yes, there’s a frum community here. We have to pay every time we drive out of the zone to shop for food or take our kids to the doctor. It’s not feasible to take a family on the subway every time. Now teachers and rabbeim need to pay more every day to come teach our kids. Our local stores are now charging more to make up for the added costs. Local Businesses are suffering because people who would come off the FDR drive to shop are now just staying on it so they don’t have to pay 9 extra dollars. You had an easier commute and you can clearly afford this, so who cares about everyone else?!
Im sorry but your the type of person that’s happy when covid happened because there’s less traffic
It seems as long as you benefit from something and can pay for it us lemmings that can’t can go to גיהנם
If everyone commuting into Manhattan makes more than $100 an hour and can afford the toll than it will have absolutely no effect on your commute.
So, for those of us who aren’t getting paid that much, it will make the commute a lot longer and much less time with family.
It’s about money.
Also, traffic is less this week because vacation is over! There was thousands of tourist in New York the month of December. Most people had off of work. Now it’s back to work!
Everyone who drove in the city will STILL drive in the city even with those prices because they HAVE to. Yes they have to!
The subway is retarded.
The train prices continue to rise all the time, so any alternative really isn’t that cheaper.
I don’t know what Manhattan you are talking about.
Having worked there in a large company for years I assumed (correctly) most make around $30/hr. Data I found (albeit for all of Manhattan, inc southern Manhattan) also said $30/hr.
I worked in midtown & many employees drove in. Knowing what these Frum employees are earning I can say this extra fee is very burdensome.
Yaakov, your article completely misses the point, and anyone with a basic level of understanding would arrive at a different conclusion.
While congestion pricing may reduce traffic in Manhattan, the real issue is why struggling New Yorkers—many barely making ends meet—are being forced to pay the price. With tolls reaching upwards of $27, this is now the most expensive toll in the nation just to access Manhattan’s bridges and roads.
At the same time, the subway system is becoming increasingly unsafe, with skyrocketing crime rates. People are being pushed onto tracks, stabbed in broad daylight, and even set on fire. This climate of fear is driving people away from using public transit altogether. If the MTA is truly serious about covering its expenses, its priority should be making the subway a safe and welcoming environment to encourage ridership again—not overburdening taxpayers.
The MTA’s financial woes are not just about declining ridership; they’re a direct result of gross mismanagement, overspending billions of dollars, and losing an estimated $700 million annually to fare evasion. Instead of squeezing more money out of New Yorkers, the focus should be on fixing these systemic issues and creating a transit system people can rely on and feel safe using.
couldnt agree more. people are always looking for the negative. I pay extra every day to take the highway to save on my commute even tho I pay tolls. I nver complained, Im happy that they charge otherwise everybody would copy me
Ok so before you get slaughtered by everyone, LOL at you thinking and believing that any money from this that is going through the MTA system is going to help mass transit become better and more efficient. Everyone knows they are a bottomless drain and no matter how many billions get poured into it they always come out with the same broke excuse. Since they are partially government run, they can’t be audited or held accountable. Besides that they don’t enforce all the turnstile jumpers at all, the amount that they waste on overtime and other nothing jobs which include pension and Healthcare is off the charts. Not to mention that they raise the toll every day for the bridges and tunnels that they run. So stop agreeing that they should have more money because it’s very naive to not see what they do with it, line their pockets. And my second point I don’t know where you’ve been this week but anyone taking the Queensboro Bridge has been complaining of absolute hell, and anywhere that borders the congestion Zone has become endless pollution. And I hope you don’t have anyone that you know in the hospital because trying to take and pick up patients just got more expensive, even if you only want to hit the FDR south for 1 second.
it generates much needed revenue to pay for the housing of migrants
From which leftist site did you copy/paste this article?
And please sign me up for a job that pays $100 per hour.
Firefighters and police make that much?
This article has all the evidence of being a big piece of sarcasms, let’s hope that’s it is just that.
#outoftouch
New York City is already one of the most expensive cities to live in.
Congestion Pricing makes New York City even more expensive.
New York City is already one of the most highly-taxed cities to live in.
Congestion Pricing makes New York City even more highly-taxed.
Remember that New York City Sales Tax = 8.75%. Is that not enough?
Stealing yet more money from the wallets of hard working New Yorkers
Most of whom are not making ends meet as it is and really have no safe option to get to NYC
To fuel a wasteful and bloated budget of the MTA
If they needed it so bad NYC shouldn’t have spent $4 billion on migrants
Also I foresee a lot of companies leaving Manhattan as the workers are finally fed up and decide to move
This will definitely cause more damage to a city already bleeding taxpayers
It essentially amounts to a more that 40% increase in tolls if you use the Lincoln or Holland tunnels. This impacts a lot more people than just those who need to drive to Midtown.
I have to assume that this article is a joke. When Gov. Hochul paused this for a while, the MTA and other government officials went crazy, saying that they were depending on the revenue that congestion pricing would generate. This whole concept is a SCAM. They know that people who need to will continue to drive within the “zone”, in fact they are banking on it.
When this was first proposed, I had an elderly parent who saw several doctors in Manhattan. She wasn’t able to use our local subway (or anywhere else with a lot of stairs or walking). She was however, still able to travel in our car using either a walker or a wheelchair. Access-a-ride was really a last resort (because of wait times mainly). I wrote to my elected officials, begging them not to impose this tax on us, as it would take away money she needed from her fixed income.
Now that she has passed, I still think this is tremendously unfair and a fraud being perpetrated on the people in and around the city, but I don’t really care that much. I will just try to avoid going into the city as much as possible and even then only by the subway.
I only wish we could elect some “normal” politicians, who care about the rights and feelings of ordinary (non- criminal or illegal alien) New Yorkers.
Thank you for your thoughtful analysis. We all gain when we read and listen to a diverse set of opinions especially ones that are thought out and well written. Sadly much of the frum media just rehashes extreme right wing talking points and people who espouse views that run counter to the current conservative MAGA orthodoxy are shunned and shut down.
Yaakov-
“The majority of people commuting into Manhattan for work earn well over $100 an hour.”
I stopped reading after that line. $100 an hour is around $200,000 per year (give or take).
At my employer you need to be at the officer level to make that amount and not even all the officers make that much. Forget about it for those that aren’t even at the officer level (I.e. associates and managers). Officers are only a small percentage of the employees.
Teachers, police officers and firefighters earn way less than that and have been driving into the city since they typically get parking permits. I don’t believe they’re exempt from the new toll.
Where are you getting this information from?
$200,000 is more than Congressmen and Senators earn per year.
And besides- even for someone earning $200,000 (pre-tax) per year- an extra $2,000 or so per year (post-tax) is a significant expense. (Can someone answer if this toll can be paid pre-tax?)
Was this a paid advertisement???? Horrible just horrible. Probably a liberal angry person wrote this. Shouldn’t the people riding the train just PAY the $2.90? Why are we paying for the minorities and thieves? That should be your concern. The criminals.
I would rather buy a package of chicken for supper than pay for a criminals $2.90.