The city’s congestion pricing program could change transportation and land use in radical ways. A comprehensive plan would make the most of those changes.
In an op-ed in Crain’s New York Business, Donovan Finn argues that New York City’s congestion pricing program, set to take effect next year, offers an opportunity for the city to create a citywide comprehensive plan.
As Finn explains, “Because cities are interconnected systems, land use patterns and commerce will also change, unlocking improvements to the processes that sustain daily life. Deliveries, waste management, education, emergency services, stormwater and many other systems will experience ripple effects from congestion pricing, providing opportunities for smart and forward-thinking solutions.” Thus, “The entire layout of the city will need to evolve in response.”
A comprehensive plan, Finn argues, is the most effective way to build communication between public agencies and create “a consensus-based vision for the city that is innovative but also sustainable and just.” Many U.S. cities have comprehensive plans that they update regularly, Finn notes.
With the congestion pricing program set to change mobility patterns and bring in new revenue, “harnessing this opportunity to address many of New York’s grand challenges will require coordinated governance with meaningful opportunities for participation by civic groups, advocates, business interests and the general public.”
FULL STORY: Op-ed: Congestion pricing will create an opportunity for comprehensive planning
Multiple Lawsuits Aim to Save NYC Congestion Pricing
Environmental and transit advocacy groups, along with the MTA, are suing USDOT over its recent crusade to end the cordon pricing program.
USDOT Revokes Approval for NYC Congestion Pricing
Despite the administration’s stated concern for the “working class,” 85 percent of Manhattan commuters use public transit to enter the city.
NYC Congestion Pricing Under Threat — Again
President Trump is attempting to make good on a campaign promise to kill New York City’s congestion pricing program, but the mechanism for ending it remains unclear.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research