Congestion pricing would benefit Manhattan’s retail scene, experts say

In mid-June, just weeks before a new congestion pricing policy was to go into effect in New York City, governor Kathy Hochul made an abrupt about face, pulling support for the program and putting it on hold indefinitely.

The program would have charged drivers a daily toll to drive within Manhattan’s busiest and most congested neighborhoods and areas, including SoHo, Times Square, Madison Avenue and the Meatpacking District. While supported by many advocacy groups, politicians and commuters, it also faced opposition from automakers and politicians in New Jersey. Their arguments against the policy range from the negative impact it would have on workers who regularly commute into the city by car and the detriment to businesses, whose trucks would be charged an especially high fee of $24-$36 per day.

But congestion pricing would actually have a beneficial impact on businesses in Manhattan, according to experts. Manhattan is one of the biggest retail hubs in the country housing a store for nearly every major fashion brand. The potential benefits go beyond just benefiting residents and the environment. There are more than twice the amount of people who take public transit in New York City than drive. The increased flow of foot traffic and cleaner, safer streets would be a boon to the city’s many shopping hubs like SoHo and Madison Avenue, according to Rachael Fuss, senior policy advisor at Reinvent Albany, a political advocacy group focused on transparency in New York politics.

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