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- Category: Industry News
It’s baaaack: The on-again, off-again congestion pricing toll is being revived in New York City after a brief stay of enforcement this summer. Congestion pricing will now go into effect January 5, 2025.
The new program will see a lower price tag—down to $9 from $15—and will assess motorists entering south of 60th Street in Manhattan during peak weekday hours (5 a.m.-9 p.m.) and weekend hours (9 a.m.-9 p.m.) via E-ZPass. It excludes FDR Drive, West Side Highway, and the Carey Tunnel. Those without the electronic toll tag will be billed by mail via plate reader and will have to cough up a higher fee. Buses would be charged $14.40-$21.60 depending upon the hours. Users of Uber and Lyft will see a $1.50 per ride surcharge, while the taxi surcharge is currently 75 cents. Read more about the For-Hire Vehicle toll structure here.
You’ll remember industry associations—national and local—cheering the unexpected postponement of the controversial program, the proceeds of which would go toward funding improvements for the city’s public transit system, MTA. Based on the previous schedule of $15 per passenger vehicle, the MTA expected to see upwards of a $1 billion per year from these fees; however, it’s uncertain how much the new fees will raise—or how the MTA plans to make up the shortfall for their anticipated subway and bus upgrades.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who paused the program shortly before it went into effect this summer—says that tolls are necessary for the future of the city’s vast public transit system. Tolls are projected to stay the same through 2027, at which point they will jump to $12 and then to $15 by 2031 for most passenger vehicles ($18 and $22.50, respectively, without E-ZPass).
The program—groundbreaking in the US but common in parts of Europe—would be the first of its kind in the nation. Its goal is to reduce gridlock and pollution, while encouraging the use of public transportation.
Click here to read more about the tolls according to vehicle and hours of entry.
[11.19.24]
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- Category: Industry News
As we head into the final month of the year, business leaders across the country—big and small—are seeing reasons to be optimistic into 2025, although obstacles still remain.
First, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) headed to Main Street, where they saw an increase of their NFIB Small Business Optimism Index in October. The monthly survey takes the temperature of small businesses across the country based on numerous key factors, including sales, employee compensation, inflation, and other economic touchpoints. In October, the score rose to 93.7, up 2.2 points from the month prior. While the 50-year average is 98, a key benchmark that the Index hasn’t seen in 34 months, it might lend some clarity to what small businesses are experiencing.
However, one data point of concern is the Uncertainty Index, which rose to 110—the highest score recorded by the Index. Small businesses have been impacted by global turmoil, several serious weather events, and the tense political rhetoric leading up to the recent US election, which likely reflected in the survey. October’s jobs report was also an unexpected miss with just 12,000 jobs being added.
“With the election over, small business owners will begin to feel less uncertain about future business conditions,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “Although optimism is on the rise on Main Street, small business owners are still facing unprecedented economic adversity. Low sales, unfilled jobs openings, and ongoing inflationary pressures continue to challenge our Main Streets, but owners remain hopeful as they head toward the holiday season.”
You can read the latest report here.
Meanwhile, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is reflecting on a mostly strong 2024 and forecasting an optimist 2025, according to the latest poll from the association. The report found that 86 percent of global business travel buyers and travel suppliers surveyed said that business travel performed on par or better than they anticipated in 2024.
Top factors cited for optimism, according to the survey, include easing travel costs/corporate budgets keeping pace (46%), improving economy/inflation reduction (44%), and increased traveler confidence/more requests for travel (40%).
Also of note, bleisure continues to be a hot trend as more than half of buyers (53%) say their company’s employees are taking more linked trips than they did a year ago. Day trips are declining while a third of those surveyed report longer trips were up in 2024 versus the previous year. Sustainability also remains a high priority for 46 percent of respondents, while 49 percent are excited about adopting AI into their travel programs (although it was a lower priority for companies over other critical factors like managing costs, traveler safety, and travel ROI).
“GBTA’s findings illustrate an industry at a pivotal point. Business travel is more than rebounding, it’s transforming—driven by the need to manage costs and risk, ensure strong traveler productivity and experience, and drive responsible growth,” said GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang. “As 2025 approaches, industry leaders are balancing expansion with accountability, looking to harness new technology, trip trends, and sustainable practices to enable business travel to continue to deliver incredible value in a rapidly changing world.”
You can read the report highlights here.
Visit nfib.com and gbta.org for more information.
[11.19.24]
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- Category: Industry News
Did we miss your event? Ready to share your calendar for 2025? Let us know! Send an email to susan@chauffeurdriven.com or rob@chauffeurdriven.com and we’ll add your meeting/conference to our list of events in the monthly magazine, in our weekly newsletter, and on our website.
NOVEMBER
11/11
CTANJ (formerly LANJ) Insurance Webinar (online)
1:00 p.m. members only
RSVP to patricia.nelson103@gmail.com by 11/8
lanj.org
11/12
ILLBA Breakfast With ILLBA
location TBD
10:00 a.m.
illba.org
11/13
GBTA Webinar (online)
The 2024 Business Travel Index Outlook: What Is in Store for 2024 and Beyond
11:00 a.m. ET
gbta.org
11/19
ALA Educational Event (Phoenix)
9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
azlimo.org
CLA Member Meeting
Tower Tap and Grill (inside the Double Tree) in Denver
9:00 a.m. breakfast/9:30 a.m. meeting
cololimo.org
11/21-22
FLA Leadership Summit & Awards Gala/Golf Tournament
Orlando
floridalimousine.com
DECEMBER
12/3
CLA Holiday Party
Cinzzetti's in Northglenn at 6:00 p.m.
cololimo.org
GCLA Gala and Awards
Nixon Library in Yorba Linda
6:00 p.m.
gcla.org
NELA Quarterly/Holiday Meeting
Andover Country Club in Andover, Mass.
6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
nelivery.org
12/4
PRLA Party/Meeting
Maggiano’s in King of Prussia
6:30 p.m.
prlainc.org
12/10
Maryland Motorcoach Association Holiday Party/Cruise
Spirit Cruise Lines in Baltimore
6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
marylandmotorcoach.org
Virginia Limousine Association Holiday Party
Ristorante Renato in Fredericksburg
6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
virginialimousineassociation.org
12/12
CTANJ (formerly LANJ) Holiday Party
Fernandes Night Club in Newark
6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
RSVP to patricia.nelson@CTANJ.org
lanj.org
12/17
MLA Holiday Party
Turf Valley Resort in Endicott City
6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
mdlimoassoc.org
JANUARY 2025
1/21
ILLBA Ring in the New Year
Carlucci in Rosemont
4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
illba.org
[11.05.24]