New York City's "congestion pricing" plan is set to start later this year, despite widespread opposition.

The plan calls for drivers entering Manhattan's Central Business District, defined as all streets below 60th, to pay a toll. Proponents argue it will boost public-transportation use and cut air pollution, but lawmakers and community activists disagree.

Michele Birnbaum, founder of The Coalition in Opposition to Congestion Pricing, predicted this plan will merely transfer Manhattan's traffic problems to other areas, and also increase air pollution.

"The traffic will increase in the areas outside the zone, causing noise pollution and congestion in those areas," she said. "They'll be cruising with vehicles and for-hire vehicles to go into the zone. They'll be cruising for parking spots."

One assessment shows air pollution will increase in the Bronx, Staten Island and into New Jersey. The City of Fort Lee and State of New Jersey have filed lawsuits about the program's effects. Most recently, the United Federation of Teachers president and Staten Island's borough president filed a lawsuit citing the environmental impacts.

The MTA will hold several public comment sessions starting on Feb. 29.

The only roads exempt from the program are the Battery Park Underpass, the West Side Highway and FDR Drive. Bus companies have been wondering if they'll get an exemption from the tax, and Birnbaum said she wonders how the program will have a future if it's successful.

"They want to eliminate cars and trucks coming into the zone," she said, "but if they eliminate it enough, they don't get their target money."

However, a study from U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., found that MTA stands to make around $3.4 billion annually from the program, well over MTA's estimate of $1 billion.

Public feedback has been mixed, with some noting it will force the MTA to make improvements to mass transit. Given this uncertainty, Birnbaum said she thinks the congestion-pricing introduction should have been handled differently.

"Our mayor is sort of buckling on this a little bit," she said. "If they felt so strongly about it, put it up for a vote. Instead, somebody introduced it into the budget."

A Siena College/Newsday poll found more than 70% of Long Islanders are opposed to congestion pricing. Nassau County's government set up a petition for people to sign opposing congestion pricing, too.


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New data show Arizona's two largest airports have fared well for on-time departures and arrivals but the same cannot be said about U.S. airlines in general.

Air travelers filed about 67,000 complaints last year, up 9% from 2023, according to a new report from the Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. The top grievances were cancellations and delays, not receiving refunds and luggage being lost or damaged.

Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for the group's Arizona education fund, said the number of travelers was expected to increase by about 7% this year but economic uncertainty and concerns from international travelers has curbed it. She noted Delta, Southwest and United have all indicated they will cut their number of flights in the months ahead.

"Then you throw in the safety issue," Murray added. "We don't have any way of knowing -- and I don't think the airlines really know for sure -- what to expect in the months ahead, although it is certainly expected that maybe we won't see a 7% increase in passengers this year."

Murray pointed out travelers have more rights this year than they did a year ago. For instance, complaints about refunds and delays prompted action from Congress on an FAA reauthorization bill, which mandates airlines to issue fast, no-hassle refunds if a flight is canceled for any reason. Online, people can visit pirg.org/flighttips for more information.

Murray noted overall, cancellations and delays across the nation increased last year. Just this week, Newark Airport saw many delays and cancellations after the FAA issued a ground stop following an outage at one of its air traffic control facilities. Murray argued flyers need to be in the know and on alert about where they are flying through.

"Pay attention to the news," Murray urged. "Because there are going to be other hot spots where, because of the air traffic control shortages and because of equipment, there may be some airports that are just a little bit more headache-inducing than what we've seen."

Murray realizes some are on edge about the current state of the airline industry but emphasized being courteous and respectful to fellow passengers and airline representatives goes a long way.

A new report shows housing and transportation are key factors that can keep young professionals from leaving Nebraska for opportunities elsewhere. Better pay is also near the top of the list.

To counter the brain drain happening across much of the Midwest, the City Of Omaha has launched a brain gain initiative, trying keep the state's young, professional talent in Nebraska.

Omaha Chamber of Commerce Director of Workforce Development Merrick Brtek said they did a survey to find out why young people are leaving.

"One of the reasons was job opportunities - that they were seeking job opportunities elsewhere," said Brtek. "Maybe they had their first career role here and were looking to advance, and they found an advancement role in another state."

Brtek said the city is helping young professionals understand that many of the priorities they're looking for elsewhere, including those advancement opportunities, already exist in Nebraska.

She added that Omaha is working to address the things that could be better, like creating more access to reliable mass transit, availability of affordable housing and higher wages.

Brtek said economic development teams are also shifting their focus to the younger demographic, trying to dispel the perception that good opportunities don't exist in Nebraska.

"We're trying to spend time working with kiddos that are a little bit younger, maybe high school students or college students, to make sure they're aware of the opportunities that are available," said Brtek. "Not just in Omaha but in the state of Nebraska to keep talent here, as well."

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau show Nebraska has been consistency losing population for the last 15 years, though some larger communities are seeing growth, mostly immigrants relocating from other countries.

Communities in southern and eastern Montana were connected to passenger rail lines running from Chicago to Seattle until 1979. An effort to fund the revival of those routes passed the House but failed in the Montana Senate this week by a few votes.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority has garnered support from county commissioners, city council members and Montanans across party lines since its creation in 2020, especially in communities that could again become rail towns.

Jason Stuart, vice chair of the authority, called rural rail a "critical lifeline."

"Folks need access to critical health care services and other services and the only way they can reach them is by car," Stuart noted. "Passenger trains would just be such a blessing for all these communities up and down, throughout Southern Montana and southern North Dakota."

He added it would bring economic opportunities as well. House Bill 848 had requested $2 million from the state's railroad car tax to go to the authority annually, about half of its average revenue.

Opponents, largely with the freight industry, argued they should not be expected to subsidize passenger rail.

Rep. Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, brought a late amendment suggesting each local government entity that is a rail authority member fund it with $50,000 annually.

Samantha Beyl, Rosebud County director for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, said the payments are not practical.

"Especially the rural towns, I don't see how any one county has an extra $50,000 laying around to do that," Beyl contended.

A $500,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program helped support plans for the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, mapped from Glendive to Saint Regis through Billings, Helena and Missoula.


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