A congestion pricing scanner is shown above the north-bound side of Broadway, between West 60th and 61st St. in Manhattan, Thursday, November 2, 2023 © Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(New York, NY) — Business owners in the congestion pricing zone say they are already being hit hard by the new toll program. One specialty food store on Ninth Avenue, says the daily deliveries they get cost more now, because delivery companies are passing on the price of the tolls onto them. They also say say fewer people are walking in the door this week. Many of their customers live outside the city.
The MTA reports subway ridership was up 12 percent on Tuesday, bus ridership was up 10 percent, suggesting some are leaving their cars at home now. A private transportation data firm reports traffic in the congestion zone was 3 percent slower on Wednesday compared to a year ago. Inrix reports the speed limit in the zone averaged around 12 miles per hour on Wednesday.
Staten Island artists and activist, Scott LoBaido, was cuffed Wednesday after climbing on top of his SUV near Columbus Circle, and holding up a cutout of a middle finger toward the congestion pricing cameras in protest.
