In 2004, traffic reached record levels on Port Authority crossings, according to a recent article in the Bergen Record. 2004 marked the first year traffic entering New York City via Port Authority cross-Hudson bridges and tunnels reached pre-Sept. 11, 2001 levels, setting an all time high of 126.5 million vehicles. The previous record was 126.3 vehicles in 2000.

New York and New Jersey residents remember the extreme congestion our region saw prior to 2001—if 2004 is an indicator and traffic-busting policies linger mainly as good, unimplemented ideas, we could be in for years of gridlock.

The Port Authority’s booming traffic numbers highlight the need to expand the regional transit system and implement other means to curb congestion.

The Port Authority itself, along with most other toll regional toll roads, is bringing high speed E-ZPass to the Outerbridge Crossing and other bridges. The Port Authority also levies higher tolls at rush hour, and is seeking to expand Lincoln Tunnel bus capacity (see article next page). The MTA, on the other hand, refuses to consider any toll policy innovations — in recent years, it has rejected both time-of-day pricing and non-stop tolls for its bridges and tunnels.

Booming traffic also reinforces the great need for for regional rail freight investment — diverting cargo from trucks to trains is another anti-congestion strategy the region needs to catch up on. Truck traffic throughout the region is expected to grow about 50% over today’s levels by 2020.

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