ALEXANDRIA, Va. — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s controversial scheme to charge a carbon or congestion tax to trucks and cars entering Manhattan is being called “unfair, ineffective and ignores real transportation needs” by the country’s largest trucking association.

“At its core, congestion pricing is designed to change driving behavior,” says Bill Graves of the American trucking Associations. “However if there’s no change in driving behavior, there would be no benefits related to congestion and pollution mitigation.”

New York’s mayor wants to charge truckers
$21 for entering downtown Manhattan

Under the proposal, the Mayor’s office would charge motorists and truckers for driving into congested Manhattan below 86th Street on weekdays during prime business hours. Trucks would be charged a hefty $21 a day, while and car drivers would pay $8 between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“In many instances, however, congestion pricing does not markedly reduce congestion; it just raises revenues — or taxes,” says Graves. “In New York, motorists would pay $400 million for a mere 6.3 percent reduction in traffic. The cost is disproportionately high compared with the benefits gained. Not to mention, motorists have already paid taxes to use these roadways.”

The same holds true for truck drivers, Graves continues. “Because shippers, not trucks, determine delivery times, trucks will simply shift from tolled bridges and tunnels to un-tolled routes and other roadways outside of the congestion zone boundaries.”

Even in London, home of the model urban congestion pricing scheme, new reports show congestion is just 8 percent below its pre-program levels and continues to rise — and this is after spending nearly half of the $14 charged per vehicle for entering the city’s center on overhead, notes the ATA.

“In short, congestion pricing increases cargo transportation costs and hurts the economy. Higher manufacturers’ and retailers’ operating costs mean higher costs to consumers for everything from gasoline and clothing to food. Fuel taxes are a much more efficient way to fund new infrastructure that effectively reduces congestion,” Graves says.

In Toronto, councillors have tried on two occasions to ban heavy trucks from the downtown core during peak hours — but to no avail.