Every day, the effects of Robert Moses’ expansive traffic structures can be seen and felt by New Yorkers. Drivers struggle to gain speed on city streets and bridges and tunnels are hubs of congestion, but it is not just those commuters who face traffic problems. Even those who utilize public transport are constantly stalled; they are not bumper-to-bumper, but body-to-body, packed into subway cars that cannot handle the large crowds of today’s New York City. Sam Schwartz’ MoveNY initiative seems to have a solution to this problem.
By reanalyzing out-dated tolling systems and rethinking the budget for transportation, there may be solace for New Yorkers who want to shorten their commute time. I thought that the idea of using the two-rule system for changing toll rates was ingenious. Places of high congestion with options for public transit are most contributing to problems of congestion and pollution, and therefore should be tolled. Currently, there are many high-traffic areas of the city which have low, or no, tolls. However, places where there is a lower volume of travelers or no public transport most require the bridges and tunnels, and therefore should have little to no cost. This common sense ideology runs through much of the MoveNY plan, and the revenue from this system could seriously help New York. With opportunities for expanded public transport, whether in trains or buses, or amenities like pedestrian bridges, “green” travel alternatives would be encouraged, further decreasing the harmful and stressful congestion of today.
Casey Sniffin
