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Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg got some more political support for his congestion pricing plan. Joseph Crowley, a representative for parts of Queens and the Bronx and head of the Queens Democratic party, appeared with Bloomberg at Grand Central Terminal's subway station together. They announced that major mass transit improvements could be made in the Bronx and Queens with funding from congestion pricing. Two Metro-North stations would be opened in the Bronx (Parkchester and Co-op City) while two shuttered LIRR stations in Queens (Elmhurst and Corona) would re-open.
What's notable is that Crowley is a very influential figure in the state Democratic party. A political consultant tells the Times, "I would think that if he’s moved on this, he already knows people are moving or he knows he could move them," while Baruch professor Douglas A. Muzzio said Crowley's support “sends a powerful signal.” The Daily News reports that the "unusual weekend news conference" was held to take advantage of the endorsement; at the press conference, Crowley said, "This forward-thinking plan will dramatically reduce pollution, improve bus and rail transit options in all parts of the city and improve the health of New Yorkers. For my constituents in Queens and the Bronx, the Mayor's plan would create more bus and rail stops in our neighborhoods, and enhance the current stops we rely on regularly."
The Post takes the opportunity to run an editorial about congestion pricing with a special spotlight on how Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver (a Democrat) hasn't said "boo" about the matter, in spite of support from Democrats and Republicans in the city and state.
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What is his position on bringing back cancelled ABC thriller "The Nine"?
Egan, out.
Sincerely,
Egan Foote
what's with you guys at gothamist and this story? enough already with these posts, we get it, gothamist loves the idea of what amounts to a new city tax. how about a relentless string of stories on raising the city's take from my paycheck while your at it.
I hope they go through it. Less cars in city the better.
Looks like it's a go with congestion pricing.
Congestion pricing Now, Congestion pricing Tomorrow, Congestion pricing Forever.
Let's see which politicians are against this. Crowley already mentioned Most of his constituents take mass transit and are OK with the plan.
What does the plan say about Cops taking their personal car into Manhattan?????????
There is no way any more LIRR stations are opening. Where does Bloomberg come up with this stuff?
Once congestion pricing (or taxation) has been shown to work in Manhattan, it should be expanded to include the parts of Brooklyn that are being affected by the Atlantic Yards project. Perhaps there are areas in Long Island City that should be considered as well.
As much as I like the idea of congestion pricing, we all know the city doesn't have the will to really improve mass transit. The Second Avenue Subway is a huge waste of money that won't do anything to make the city more liveable. It's just a gift to the well-to-do on the Upper East Side. And I'll be shocked if this project makes it past the 63rd Street tunnel. It would have made more sense to pour the money into trains in the far reaches of the outer boroughs which would encourage people to live in those areas and not to own cars once they move there. Or how about investing in better equipment so the trains can run closer together? Makes more sense than spending billions to make the platforms longer.
LIRR stops in Elmhurst and Corona? Both locations are already on subway lines! They're really missing the ball here.
2nd avenue subway is not just a gift to the Upper East Side, it's a gift to the people that live in the Bronx and East Harlem who have to share the 4,5,6 along with the UES...the 2nd ave line will alleviate the mass crowding during rush hour
more LIRR stations? when i ride the LIRR is it me or does the train stop every 100 feet?
[2], this is a major developing story that has the potential to impact the daily lives of a large number of New Yorkers. Better to have lots of posts about this than about Paris Hilton.
The second ave subway will also serve the riders of the N/R/W who transfer at 59th street. These are the people who come in from Forest Hills/Rego Park.
The crowding during rush hour is terrible.
the SAS will not be completed until sometime after 2030....
the SAS will not be completed until sometime after 2030....
bloomberg, when it enough enough? Raising property taxes 20% wasn't enough for you? The city income tax which is almost as expensive as the NY state tax... not enough... fees on everything including water going up by double digits... you really want to single handedly destroy the city don't you? I am so glad you are term limited... meanwhile the city is spending is still growing and is out of control.... get it though your skull, reduce taxes, cut wasted services, show some efficiency and then we can discuss how you can rape us at tax time some more. how many more residents and businesses need to move across the river until you understand this?!
#15
explain to me who congestion pricing will hurt
Yeah, #15. NYC is just bleeding people. At this rate, there won't be anyone left . . . wehen the sun goes dark in 4 billion years.
To the complainers who feel it is their right to drive into Manhattan free of charge: As someone who has to take a crowded subway to work and breathe the polluted Manhattan air on a daily basis, I do not feel your pain.
Why not HOV requirements also? Shouldn't we be encouraging efficiency?
#15: Pat Buchanan is that you?
#15: Pat Buchanan is that you?
So you like seeing your tax money wasted and the elimination of the middle class in NYC?
Not #15
The second ave subway will also serve the riders of the N/R/W who transfer at 59th street. These are the people who come in from Forest Hills/Rego Park.
Really? There is no planned connection of the N R W to the Second Avenue Line. All of you are making the assumption that people that get on the Second Avenue Line are going to take it all the way to their offices. Anybody that works on the east side of Midtown is still going to want to switch to the 4 5 6 at 63rd. Why would you take the Q over to 7th Avenue and the Times Square area? People coming from Queens will still switch to the 4 5 6 at 59th. Where is the improvement?
[18]... so drive then... LMAO
They need to really get working on the details of this (like not letting the Jersey drivers get the break that the Brooklyn/Queens drivers don't get, etc.) but in general, this can't happen soon enough.
Walked up 7th from 33rd to 37th today at lunch hour, and there was gridlock or box blockers *on every block*!!! If someone showed me numbers that said there was a wicked-ass increase in the number of cars in Manhattan over the past five years, I'd believe him. And it's only going to get worse. So bring it on.
*So you like seeing your tax money wasted and the elimination of the middle class in NYC?*
I am middle class and have no issues with taxes... if you can't handle progress, move. also, please explain to this forum how our tax dollars are being wasted, in nyc.
This isn't a tax - it is simply putting a tangible price on the costs people driving into the city unnecessarily impose on those who have no option but to drive in the city, and those of us who breathe the air.
EdEx you're totally twisting words. People (at least me anyway) aren't saying they don't want to pay taxes but they want them spent efficiently. It seem like you're trying to paint anyone that thinks governemnt wastes money as a right wing wacko. Brilliant reasoning. I'm all for trying the congestion pricing but if the city id going to turn around and waste the money then I hardly see the point. Forcing people onto mass transit is half the equation. You need to build more of it where it is needed and Second Avenue is a lousy place to start. Yes, the middle class is being squeezed out. And I don't even know what the hell you're talking about with "if you can't handle progress". It's like you're having a debate but you're making up what your opponent is saying.
solidago, i know it's not a tax... it's a fee for entering the city, but honestly, the easiest most effiecent way to charge a fee witout creating severe bottle necking congestion, is tax.ould be deducted from easy pass and those without would have to wait on line and pay cash.
More Paris please.
blah blah blah taxes.
That's all I hear from the opposition of this plan. You babies are going to have to realise that there is an overall cost to your selfishness and 'convenience' of driving yourselves all over the place. The proposed fee isn't nearly high enough. You want to drive your little car around Manhattan, 20 bucks a day. No breaks for the people who live in the zone either.
Hey I've got a better idea than a lazy-driver tax. How about we shut down a couple tunnels and thru-streets entirely? Make the major aves and cross streets below 86th street bus only streets, and let the car drivers duke it out for the remaining space, ticketing the crap out of them ($1,000 a ticket seems reasonable) when they block the box.
while we're at making people pay, I think we should end all subsidies to mass transit... make people pay the actual cost to use it, why should the rest of the state pay to subsidize people riding the subway? let them pay 8-10 dollars per ride.
Screw Bloomberg- he looks good now, but he's systematically destroying the NYPD.
I'd go along with congestion pricing, if the toll we pay crossing bridges would stop going towards subsidizing mass transit. We've paid for the bridges and tunnels many times over, time for subway riders to pay their fair share!!!!!
yes, #32, let's discourage people from using mass transit and encourage enough people to drive in manhattan so that the streets will become parking lots! that will also help with nyc's not having enough smog - we really need to catch up to la, they're killing us. fresh air really makes me gag.
also #27, i'm failing to see how the second avenue subway is a waste of money, seeing as how the M15 is the highest-trafficked bus line in the country. clearly there's a demand over there - and have you ever ridden the 4/5/6 during rush hour?
[24], what break are you talking about that Jersey drivers will get but Brooklyn/Queens drivers won't?