As New York-Style Downtown Congestion Pricing Takes Effect, Here’s What It Would Look Like in Chicago – NBC Chicago

As public transportation funds dry up and traffic congestion only seems to increase in big cities, some are considering taxing people to drive to their city centers.

At the end of June, New York City will implement its controversial “congestion reduction zone,” which will charge private car drivers $15 to travel to Lower Manhattan.

“We’re going to see more of this stuff,” said Joseph Schwieterman, director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University. “It is not possible to significantly expand the road infrastructure, all major cities will have to think about it.”

New York’s MTA said its “congestion reduction zone” would provide a “transformational opportunity” to solve traffic congestion and improve public transportation. Tolls from the program will be collected through the EZ-Pass transponder system and will be shared with transit agencies to improve subway stations, purchase electric buses and make systems more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Chicago drivers admit congestion is a problem.

“I think it’s a little annoying when you’re driving and it’s bumper to bumper and it takes about 10 to 20 minutes to go a mile,” resident Jonathan Duran said.

Duran said he doesn’t think a New York-style tolling system would work here.

Neither did Salina Yasin, who said it took her 90 minutes to get downtown Wednesday morning.

“I think it’s a crime,” she said.

If the Chicago region were to consider a congestion pricing program, it wouldn’t be the first time. Under Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration, there was a proposal to add toll lanes to the Stevenson Expressway, although the measure failed to gain traction in Springfield.

Chicago already has a sort of congestion tax that went into effect in January 2020 and applies to rideshare vehicles.

It adds more than $3.00 to rates in an area bounded by North Avenue, Roosevelt Road, Des Plaines Avenue, Ashland Avenue and North Branch Canal. The program also helped close an $838 million budget gap.

Some experts say congestion pricing may have more downsides than benefits.

Tim Menard, CEO of transportation technology company LYT, told NBC Chicago that new AI-based technology is being deployed to reduce traffic congestion.

Still, Schwieterman said congestion pricing could work in Chicago if officials took a more moderate approach.

“The main thing is that you don’t send sky-high prices, but make them practical, so people can still drive,” he said. “They’re just making common sense decisions: morning rush hour; team up with other people; try to limit this excessive driving.