City Council Balks at Congestion Pricing

A NY Times survey shows City Council members, if they were to vote today, oppose the congestion pricing plan 2-1. Which means it's not just Albany legislators that Mayor Bloomberg has to politick to get his congestion pricing plan passed.

Congestion pricing has been a centerpiece of Bloomberg's PlaNYC initiative, a program to ensure the city's sustainability in the year 2030. A lot of transit-related planning hinges upon the millions expected from congestion pricing; earlier this week, MTA CEO Elliot Sander gave a laundry list of projects that would depend on congestion pricing revenue.

According to the Times' survey, Bloomberg would have 12 of the necessary 26 votes to enact the plan, with 11 members holding serious reservations and 8 members not responding. The City Council has 51 members total, so 20 members are currently opposed to the plan. Councilman Lewis A. Fidler, a Brooklyn Democrat, explained the prevailing attitude, "I think the council members, recognizing it’s not going to pass in Albany, want to assert the integrity of this institution.” In other words, it's perfect opportunity for a pissing match.

Bloomberg is a term-limited lame duck who now has three weeks to bend ears and twist arms, because the deadline that would qualify the City for $350 million in federal funding is looming on March 31st. Maybe Newsday's Dan Janison is right - maybe it is all downhill from here for Bloomberg.

Photo from the Associated Press

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By Dave Hogarty in News on March 8, 2008 4:30 PM

Comments [rss]

The Edge

Because for some folks, mass transit isn't within a reasonable walking distance.

Maybe there oughta be less cabs (both gypsy AND yellow). I'm sure that'd make more of a difference than anything else.

eager2

Congestion pricing is a no-brainer. Why would anyone drive a car in this city except out of complete selfishness? Take the damn train or subway, like everyone else, you lazy, fat ass sacks of sh*t.

JMH

They are trying to suck toll money out of people who already pay for the roads via taxes.
Let's say that's the case. So what? That money will then be used to benefit people who ALSO already pay for the roads via taxes but don't use them to nearly the same extent. I have no problem with that. I say LET the Nassau/Suffolk/Westchester/NNJ commuters pay more.

And even IF it's going to go into NYC general funds (which the proponents of the plan have done everything in their power to prevent from being the case), still, so what? Let it be a replacement for the stupidly-repealed commuter tax.

TKaisen

Um, congestion pricing will reduce traffic by charging the people who cause it.

No, it won't. Salaries will go up to compensate.

And if you really think all the money is going to go into a giant box marked "Transit improvements" and not "General NYC Slush Fund" then there's really no point in arguing with you.

If they wanted to reduce traffic, they'd make the cost like $30 per car per day. They are trying to suck toll money out of people who already pay for the roads via taxes.

glennQNYC

Congestion tax advocates don't seem to care 'Brooklyn and I;' even IF the law demands an enviromental impact study... They got their eyes on our money.

brooklyn and i

will the Brooklyn section from all the Bridges ( Brooklyn Bridge- williamsburg Bridge ) neighborhood's bee the" park and ride " for all long island cars

it is very hard to find a normal parking space in Brooklyn. what dangress effect it will be to the the local residential environmental and business?

glennQNYC

Pricing (unless priced significantly higher) will not effect congestion/pollution in any noticable way. As it becomes easier to drive in Manhattan, it becomes more attractive to do it. The illusion that business (that usually don't have a mass transit option) will recoup the tax through increased productivity is a joke.

What the pricing plan is simply about is revenue. The federal government wants states to institute pricing, and they are ready to bribe.

Die congestion tax, die!

eveostay

Um, congestion pricing will reduce traffic by charging the people who cause it.

And it will raise money for transit -- which just happens to be how most of the commuters from outside Manhattan enter Manhattan -- by a long shot.

Check out the TSTC fact sheets at

http://www.tstc.org/CP_factsheets.html -- these explain how few people are in the drive-to-work-in-Manhattan class.

eveostay

Um, congestion pricing will reduce traffic by charging the people who cause it.

And it will raise money for transit -- which just happens to be how most of the commuters from outside Manhattan enter Manhattan -- by a long shot.

Check out the TSTC fact sheets at

http://www.tstc.org/CP_factsheets.html -- these explain how few people are in the drive-to-work-in-Manhattan class.

blablanyc

Honestly. His congestion pricing plan may be unconstitutional.

Streamwise

Yes, what the city really need is more idiots commuting alone in their cars. As the metro area population increases in the next 5 years, it's in the best interest to promote gridlock and pollution, and waste hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure so Joe Guido Asshole can commute in his Hummer H2. That's some real smart forward planning. Maybe the $5 gasoline this summer will discourage some of them....

blablanyc

Explain myself more thoroughly? Have you been paying attention to what has been going on in NYC since Bloomberg has become mayor?

TKaisen

I don't see why people are so unwilling to give congestion pricing an opportunity. If it doesn't work... you simply stop doing it.

Because there's no reason for council members who live outside of Manhattan to support it because it screws their constituents.

It's nearly impossible to "stop doing it" when it comes to giving the government money. Tolls on the NYS Thruway were supposed to be ended in the late 90s when the bonds were paid off. Instead they've been raised in the last two years.

aydiosmio

I don't see why people are so unwilling to give congestion pricing an opportunity. If it doesn't work... you simply stop doing it.

I'd also like blablanyc to explain h//self more thoroughly.