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GridlockSam Schwartz @GridlockSam

Founder @samschwartzeng, columnist @NYDailyNews, former NYC traffic commissioner, author of No One at the Wheel.

Joined October 2009
  • Tweets 15,657
  • Following 2,870
  • Followers 11,662
559 Photos and videos
I spoke with @Gothamist about trash containerization. Mayor-elect Mamdani should move quickly on continuing what Adams started. gothamist.com/news/mayor-ada…

Mayor Adams got much of NYC's trash into bins. It's up to Mamdani to finish the job.

Mayor Eric Adams is leaving behind a cleaner city, as well as a fight over whether to put garbage containers in parking spaces.

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We can make "smarter" congestion pricing by moving beyond a binary system. Instead of a flat fee per entry, charge for how much of the central business district people use and for how long. I spoke with @Gothamist about this in the link below. gothamist.com/news/gov-hochu…

Gov. Hochul declines to jack up NYC congestion tolls to ease holiday traffic

State law allows the MTA to increase its daily congestion pricing fee by 25% when the city transportation department declares a "Gridlock Alert" day, but the governor has barred the agency from doing...

gothamist.com
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Gridlock Sam’s transportation list for Mamdani’s first 100 days What should I suggest for Days 101-200? nydailynews.com/2025/11/30/g…

Gridlock Sam’s transportation list for Mamdani’s first 100 days

Zohran Mamdani has an opportunity within his first 100 days to transform the streets of New York City and send a very strong message: “streets are for people.” Below, I list quick actions, easy...

nydailynews.com
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Are ghosts real? Well, when it comes to drivers in NYC, Ghost Cars are very real. Check out my comments in Investigative TV. @InvestigateTV @annawerner @EmVestigates investigatetv.com//2025/11/1…

Phantom license plates leave drivers haunted by tolls, tickets

People across the country have reported receiving bills for tolls or traffic violations they shouldn't have — and experts say drivers looking to avoid fines and fees combined with how agencies send...

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The city also needs to keep a serious check on the incoming autonomous vehicle companies like Waymo, said "Gridlock" Sam Schwartz, who served as traffic commissioner in the 1980s.
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The self-driving cars will have triple the impact of the likes of Uber and Lyft, Schwartz estimated, because they don't rely on humans. "Waymo doesn’t take lunch breaks, it can respond quickly anywhere and it works at nights as well," said Schwartz. nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/11/…

AGENDA 2026: The New Mayor Must Revolutionize NYC's Streets - Streetsblog New York City

We've already offered the low-hanging fruit that the new mayor could accomplish on Day 1. Now, it's time to roll up the sleeves for our big list.

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My advice for the incoming Mayor of NYC. Take a listen! @faqnyc @harrysiegel @TweetBenMax @Dr_CMGreer @katie_honan thecity.nyc/2025/10/07/18-bi…

LISTEN: An $18 Billion Transit Cut Is No Way to Cut Through Gridlock

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My story in a nutshell!
City Dweller Podcast@DwellerPodcast
1 Aug 2025
I spoke with Gridlock Sam Schwartz (@GridlockSam) about growing up in Brooklyn and how he helped to set the stage for congestion pricing, protected bike lanes, and other pedestrian-friendly improvements in New York City. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
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GridlockSam Schwartz retweeted
Transit Solutions@TransitSolution
6 May 2025
In celebration of Transit Solutions 20th anniversary, hear from renowned traffic engineer and Car Free Day Long Island keynote speaker/partner @GridlockSam on how sustainable transit can improve the environment and reduce stress for all.
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“I’ve never seen such a blanket cessation of federal funds threatened,” he said. “This is very serious. Our infrastructure really doesn’t care what goes on in Washington. It will continue to age and crumble.”
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Check out the full story: nytimes.com/2025/04/21/nyreg…

In Congestion Pricing Fight, Trump Administration Ratchets Up Threats (Published 2025)

The administration has demanded the tolling program end by late May, arguing that it unfairly burdens working-class commuters.

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Join us this Friday, March 21st, for the MIT Mobility Forum with Prof. Jinhua Zhao! Topic: Congestion Pricing in NYC: Can It Work Anywhere? 12:00-1:00 PM ET Register: lnkd.in/e9e5NmPz
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I joined Bill Ritter on Up Close to dive into the effects of President Trump’s economic war and tariffs on Americans. abc7ny.com/post/close-bill-r…

Up Close 3/16/25: President Donald Trump's economic war with tariffs and its impact on Americans

While the president says he's got it under control, the stock market and many Americans are concerned about the current state of the U.S. economy.

abc7ny.com
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The N.Y.P.D. could allow police parking just on a precinct house’s block, with the commander awarding spots, Sam Schwartz, a former city traffic commissioner and a longtime critic of police parking practices, told me. Beyond the block, he said, “you ticket them, you tow them.”
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nytimes.com/2025/03/10/opini…

Opinion | A Simple Way to Check Police Corruption? Parking Tickets. (Published 2025)

Cracking down on officers’ abuse of placards would signal an end to the culture of impunity that has suffused the department.

nytimes.com
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The BQE’s woes and what’s next: A slimmed-down span with supports on both sides. Read my article here: nydailynews.com/2025/03/09/t…

The BQE’s woes and what’s next: A slimmed-down span with supports on both sides

With political turmoil at all levels of government, many problems may get overlooked or delayed. But I worry about one in particular that could have calamitous results as time goes on: The BQE’s...

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Listen to my interview about Congestion Pricing on BonxTalk - youtube.com/watch?v=WmaepZmQ…

BronxTalk | Congestion Pricing

This week's BronxTalk features one of the city's leading traffic ex...

youtube.com
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In the 1980s, federal officials briefly threatened to withhold approval and funding for the rehabilitation of the Williamsburg Bridge over safety issues, according to Samuel I. Schwartz, a former city traffic commissioner. nytimes.com/2025/02/20/nyreg…

Congestion Pricing Remains in Effect. Here’s What to Know. (Published 2025)

The Trump administration said it revoked federal approval for the tolling plan on Feb. 19. New York leaders are fighting to keep it.

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DOT says it has terminated approval for congestion pricing - watch my interview here: youtube.com/watch?v=TfOLko4L…

DOT says it has terminated approval for congestion pricing

Former NYC Traffic Commissioner Sam Schwartz reacts to Gov. Hochul ...

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MTA Sues USDOT as Trump Administration Moves to End NYC Congestion Pricing enr.com/articles/60316-mta-s…

MTA Sues USDOT as Trump Administration Moves to End NYC Congestion Pricing

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation said in a letter to New York's governor that it has rescinded its earlier approval for New York City’s first-in-the-country congestion pricing program. 

enr.com
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