For the first time, New Yorkers were presented with the entirety of what congestion pricing will accomplish, and they liked what they saw. Quinnipiac University released a poll today showing 60% of NYC voters back congestion pricing if the revenue is used to improve public transit. Most notably, residents of Queens, 61% of whom support pricing, were second only to Manhattan (70%) in their approval of the plan.

A federal grant tied to pricing will put 365 new buses on NYC streets, and new service on the 1,C,E and F trains is scheduled as well. The $400 million annual revenue generated by pricing will fund even more service in the years to come.

To ensure that congestion pricing revenue is dedicated exclusively to public transit, Transportation Alternatives has pressed the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission and legislators to endorse a "transit lock-box" for all pricing proceeds.

"New York is a transit town. And when New Yorkers know that congestion pricing means hundreds of new buses and subway cars, new bus routes and more reliable service, they come on board," says Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. "It's up to the City, and advocates like us, to make sure New Yorkers know these benefits are coming."