From Tom Wright, President and CEO of Regional Plan Association:

Congestion pricing will reduce congestion in the region’s traffic-choked core and raise critically-needed funds for mass transit. The policy will benefit the vast majority of commuters, residents and businesses in the region who rely on mass transit and will benefit drivers who suffer under some of the worst traffic conditions in the nation. RPA commends the Traffic Mobility Review Board for delivering a thorough set of recommendations for implementing the policy and encourages the MTA to continue moving ahead with implementation.

No proposal will satisfy every constituency, and we do think this proposal can be improved. In particular, the MTA Board should increase the credits being given to drivers entering the zone through a tolled facility – the Lincoln, Holland, Hugh Carey and Queens-Midtown tunnels – and extend credits to drivers using the George Washington and RFK bridges.

As the program advances through the State Administrative Process towards implementation next year, the MTA will need to thoroughly monitor the program and address any unforeseen issues that come up. In particular, the MTA should monitor and be transparent about how much revenue the fees generate; how transit use is impacted; the effects of the credit policy; the impact of taxi and for hire vehicle fees; the effectiveness of enforcement and how license plate abuse is being handled; the potential benefits of two way tolls; and charging vehicles that begin and end their trips entirely within the zone.