How will congestion pricing affect
outer borough residents?
Many New Yorkers live in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island because they can’t afford to live in Manhattan.
Many New Yorkers in these boroughs don’t have adequate access to public transportation. Because of this, they are often forced to drive or use car services like Uber and Lyft.
An additional tax on these New Yorkers — many of whom come into Manhattan to live and work — to enter the borough will discourage or prevent them from doing so, effectively pricing them out.
As this additional tax will discourage some drivers from entering the CBD of Manhattan, traffic in the surrounding areas will build up. Community members in Uptown Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island will suffer a substantial increase in traffic that could slow down necessary trips by personal vehicle or bus.
Air pollution will also be diverted into these areas. Community members, including those who don’t drive, will additionally suffer the worsened air quality.
Property values in these areas will depreciate due to these externalities, hindering economic growth.
Deliveries and other commerce, especially by truck, will become slower and/or more expensive.