CHICAGO (CBS) — Chicago tied with New York City in a recent ranking of the most congested cities in the U.S. — and globally, Chicago and New York City came in only behind Istanbul.
Drivers who spoke to CBS News Chicago on Tuesday had similar complaints.
“Sometimes the traffic is very heavy,” says driver Gilbert Enriquez, “very busy, and especially when we are here downtown.”
Pierre Jeanty said he’s seeing delays especially on Chicago’s freeways.
“Sometimes it takes an hour, two hours,” Jeanty said.
A recently released global scorecard from data and analytics company INRIX shows that Chicago and New York each lose a week a year when stuck in traffic.
But New York City has been the subject of national headlines because of something relevant that changed this week.
Congestion pricing began this week in New York City for drivers entering a Congestion Relief Zone in Manhattan. This zone consists of everything below 60th Street in Manhattan: from Midtown south to Battery Park.
Most drivers passing under new toll gates now are charged a toll per day to enter the zone in Manhattan. The system is set up to charge most drivers $9 during peak hours between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.
The toll costs $2.25 at night.
Drivers taking the Holland or Lincoln Tunnels, which pass under the Hudson River into New Jersey, get a $3 discount during peak hours only. Taxi drivers in New York City will pay a new surcharge of 75 cents per ride when they enter the zone, but it will be double that per ride ($1.50) for those who take Uber or Lyft. Lyft has said it will credit users $1.50 toward a future ride if they are hit with the fee while taking a ride in January.
Trucks pay the most in New York City’s new system, with the largest paying $21.60 at its peak.
The revenue generated by this new toll in New York is expected to be in the billions and will be used for transportation improvements.
Could something similar be useful in Chicago? Despite the traffic problems, Enriquez would prefer this not to happen.
“A normal person makes about $15 an hour,” he said. “That’s too much.”
But it is something that is being weighed. Ald. William Hall (6th), chairman of the Chicago City Council Revenue Committee, gave a survey to all councilors last fall to give their opinions on a congestion tax to increase revenue in the city.
“There was no one who supported a new tax,” Hall said. “In fact, there was more discussion about, again, research and data to justify even though it was a relevant idea.”
But Hall said there are concerns that keep the idea of a congestion tax relevant.
“And you know, as we look at the congestion tax now – especially with more concerns about the environment, more concerns about the traffic going into and out of Chicago, who’s coming in and who’s going out, so that’s what the conversation is now about that if last started. fall,” Hall said.
DePaul University professor and transportation expert Joe Schwieterman said Chicago should take a look at what New York is doing.
“We need congestion management strategies — especially on the highways and the toll roads — and changing the way people use those roads; carpool a little bit more,” Schwieterman said. “Unfortunately we are behind.”
Schwieeterman said the potential for reasonable highway tolls could be used for better transit service and road improvements.
Suzanne Le Mignot
