Despite Governor Horowitz’s emergency halt to the plan to collect congestion fees for vehicles entering south of 60th Street in Manhattan, the MTA seems to be determined to continue with the scheme. According to a survey, implementing the congestion pricing plan will have varying effects on different areas of New York City in terms of fire and rescue services.
New York City is known for its crowded buildings and streets, making rapid fire spread a critical issue in case of emergencies. An investigation by ABC television station revealed that over the past decade, the time taken for firefighters in New York City to reach the scene of emergency incidents has increased by over a minute, with some areas facing even worse conditions. Between 2013 and 2023, the time needed for firefighters to reach their destination in the area south of 60th Street in Manhattan increased from 4 minutes and 26 seconds to 5 minutes and 34 seconds.
Laura Kavanagh, the Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department, stated in an interview with ABC television that certain areas in New York experience severe traffic congestion, leading to delays in reaching emergency sites especially when traffic lights and alarms are not functioning properly, preventing drivers from taking alternative routes and causing unavoidable traffic blockages.
The survey indicated that traffic congestion results in longer response times for fire trucks in areas outside the congestion fee collection zones. Last year, on average, firefighters took 5 minutes and 39 seconds to arrive at fire scenes north of 60th Street in Manhattan, with even longer response times in Staten Island and the Bronx having the longest average response time at 5 minutes and 57 seconds.
Glenn Corbett, a fire expert from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, underscored the importance of policymakers seriously examining the situations in all areas and studying the time needed for emergency response in such circumstances.
He pointed out that while the introduction of congestion pricing may potentially improve response times in Midtown Manhattan, avoidance of the fee collection zones by increasing numbers of people could worsen traffic conditions and response times in surrounding areas.
Regarding the issue of emergency response time for fire incidents, a spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department stated in a release, “The Fire Department is committed to protecting life and property and is dedicated to promptly responding to all emergencies.”