Congestion pricing for NYC dead for now
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to make mid-town Manhattan the first American urban center to institute congestion pricing has died in a secret vote in a Capitol conference room, the New York Times reports. ABG reported on this proposal when the NY City Council approved it just one week ago.
A similar scheme is said to have reduced motor vehicle traffic and pollution levels in London, England. According to one study, "In the first year of the scheme's implementation, traffic delays in central London have dropped by around 30% and around 65,000-70,000 fewer car movements come into the zone each day."
A surprising coalition of environmentalists, transit advocates and Republican leaders moved the ambitious plan forward. Even the Bush administration was giving the go-ahead, paving the way for $354 million in traffic mitigation and mass transit funding. "The congestion pricing bill did not have anywhere near a majority of the Democratic conference, and will not be on the floor of the Assembly," Mr. Silver said after his meeting with fellow Democrats.
[Source: New York Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 9:52AM (4/08/2008)
The Democrats killed it? Follow the $$$$$$$$$$$!!!
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Amtoro 9:56AM (4/08/2008)
Why the country that in the past was a symbol of progress and innovation in the world, has become a paradigm of self-contentment where any attempt to move forward encounters a mass of people decided to do the opposite or just nothing at all?
It is not a surprise that North America has such a low level of appreciation in the world today...
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steven 10:08AM (4/08/2008)
If you want to more "local" point of view on both sides, make sure to read the reader comments on the NY Times post.
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Throwback 12:45PM (4/08/2008)
As a native New Yorker, I can tell you this proposal was not viewed that favorably by most of the New Yorkers I know. Most folks already use mass transit, and the system is strained to the breaking point during rush hour now. The people who use mass transit did not see how this would "improve" the system.
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Dave 3:00PM (4/08/2008)
Amtoro, the NY state legislature was right to reject this measure on principle.
It was a blatant attempt to boost tax revenue with no guarantee that any of the proceeds would be invested in expanding the city's existing mass transit system.
In a period of epic inflation, Americans are particularly skeptical about new taxes. Bloomberg failed to convince the electorate. It's that simple.
We may be overly cynical, but we are not the luddites you make us out to be.
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Kevin 6:28PM (4/08/2008)
I live in New York and congestion charging is a freaken joke if you ask me. I drive in manhattan everyday and the last thing I need is more tolls. They freaken raised the tolls on the holland tunnel and the verazano bridge and I wouldn't be suprised if they put up toll booths on the manhattan and brooklyn bridge. I did a car pool and dropped off 2 of my friends and you know what I get a freaken ticket for being in a no standing zone for 20 seconds or it would have been 20 seconds if it werent for the freaken meter maids who just run up to your car. Besides you see the UK right and they pay congestion charging for years have you seen anything from it. Is congestion gone in London? From what I hear no so why would we want to copy something that just doesn't work. Also why would you charge people more stuff when we are in a middle of a recession and gas prices are they highest we have ever seen. All those who are for this bill are ignorant POS and don't know a thing about NYC.
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