Blog: Congestion Pricing

Most of AAA's 43 million members have no idea their emergency tow-truck service also uses membership money to lobby for more roads and against environmental standards for cars. Streetsblog discusses how New York State's AAA organization (nationally it's a federation of individual state groups) is also opposing the congestion charging plan to cut down on traffic and pollution in New York City. In an article in their magazine, they parrot anti-congestion pricing talking points and even come out against walking as a good form of exercise. As our air gets more polluted, AAA is there making sure it stays that way.

As reported by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Tom Suozzi, Nassau County Executive and Democratic candidate for governor, took a smart stand by advocating for roadway congestion pricing, including Nassau's main highway, the LIE. "Everyone talks about how upset they are with the traffic, and everyone talks about how they want to do something about global warming," he said.

TSTC also discusses the media's sensationalistic and divisive reaction:

Some media outlets predictably pounced on the statement – 1010 WINS, for instance, interviewed L.I.E. drivers, asking if they wanted to pay a toll without mentioning that the point would be to un-jam the highway. Suozzi said in follow up remarks that the L.I.E. was simply an example, and that he would like a debate on congestion-relief pricing to further develop in the metropolitan region.

Before we cheer Suozzi too much, he also opposes adding a third track on the LIRR, however, possibly reacting partly to legitimate concerns but largely, it appears, voicing the NIMBYism of the property owners near the LIRR.