If you're sad about congestion pricing, find hope in airports.
PLUS instructions on who to call and email, and dates to save to advocate for congestion pricing.
Like many, I’m bummed about the governor’s recent pivot on congestion pricing. Sure, I’m bummed because I’d like to realize the benefits of congestion pricing, but what’s worse is that we just can’t get out of our own way. We can’t get things done.
Hochul’s block adds one more story to the pile of stories about how our institutions are broken. Our government is inept. Our policymakers don’t serve us. Why try to invest in progress? The money will probably go to waste and the project will be 20 years late. Why try to advocate for change? Our politicians are just going to flip flop at the last minute and kill all our hard work. 😩
If you need a reason to keep calling, keep emailing, keep rallying, consider another recent story: the “unthinkable turnaround at New York City’s airports.” It's a rare news story about government doing something good– not because government never does good things, but rather because good news doesn’t sell. The airport turnaround story is a reminder of what’s possible with vision and investment.
Progress is possible. We can get things done. ✈️
A decade ago, all three of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s hubs were consistently ranked among the nation’s worst. The nonprofit Regional Plan Association reported that the airports’ lack of capacity had already started to negatively impact the region’s economy, and would only only get worse if the problem wasn’t addressed. Both Biden and Trump compared LaGuardia to a “Third World country.”
Progress is possible. We can get things done. ✈️
Yes, it’s been expensive. The Port Authority spent $19B on JFK’s upgrades in addition to private financing and partnerships with Delta and American airlines to expand terminals. Newark’s new terminal cost $2.7B. LaGuardia underwent a nine-year, $8B rebuild of Terminals B and C and its surrounding roadways. The transformation is incredible– LGA is now a destination for public art displays. There are live orchids in the bathrooms.🌼🚽
Progress is possible. We can get things done. ✈️
Revenues from congestion pricing were expected to reach $1B per year for the MTA. We can raise enough for an orchid-in-the-bathroom level of transformation in 8 years.🌼🚆
Keep calling, keep rallying. ✈️
Here’s instructions from Open Plans on who to call and email, and dates to save to advocate for congestion pricing.