New York finally takes its traffic decongestant 

Almost 100 years after New York City officials first considered putting tolls on the East River bridges, drivers are finally being charged to enter Midtown and Lower Manhattan. With a new policy chapter being written, it will likely take time to determine how successful the program is and whether it will need modifications. This week, NY1’s Errol Louis was joined by two people who figured heavily in congestion pricing’s implementation: MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber and Sam Schwartz, popularly known as “Gridlock Sam,” whose work combatting traffic in Manhattan dates back more than 50 years. The two men highlighted different goals. Lieber discussed how the program is expected to pay for much-needed infrastructure improvements within the city’s subway system, while Schwartz is hoping for less traffic and shorter emergency response times. Join the conversation, weigh in on Twitter using the hashtag #NY1YouDecide or give us a call at 212-379-3440 and leave a message. Or send an email to YourStoryNY1@charter.com.