Friday, May 25, 2007

Traffic report

Manhattan is the only borough with the majority of its residents supporting congestion pricing in a new poll:

OUTER BOROUGHS QUESTION CONGE$TION: POLL

The congestion pricing pilot program, is opposed by 56 percent of New Yorkers, according to a poll released yesterday. Thirty-seven percent of 1,018 city voters polled by Quinnipiac University said they support the plan to charge drivers $8 and truckers $21 to enter Manhattan below 86th Street on weekdays.

In an effort to cut back on the current congestion, the mayor is cracking down box-blockers:

Box blockers beware

'BLOCK'-HEADS BETTER BEWARE

Meanwhile, the head of the MTA is suggesting longer platforms and trains and speedier service:

FAST TRACK

Photo from NY Post

8 comments:

verdi said...

Of course they approve of it!

Now they can finally build a "pricing moat" around their castle!

Next will come the Alligators placed in the East River to prevent the non-Manhattan riff-raff from invading their domain!

How Medieval!

Anonymous said...

Most of the people in downtown Brookilyn and LIC support the plan.

We are the ones first getting Manhattan's smog.

We also have excellent public transportation.

Anonymous said...

Well if you already have excellent transportation, then naturally, you would support it. Now imagine even more people on the subway you currently squeeze onto yourself.

Anonymous said...

Interesting how their solutions are on the cheap. More longer trains on the existing system.

Hey guys, you need to expand the system. It still is pretty much the same subway that was around in 1918.

Anonymous said...

Its bad enough dithering in Queens lets everyone walk all over them, from their 2-bit politicians to the head-up-their arse Manhattanites, but when you guys do make up your mind you are all wet. Take your cars into Manhattan knuckleheads, but its my lungs you are damaging!

Check this out, and its only May:

------------------
Air Stagnation Advisory

/O.NEW.KOKX.AS.Y.0001.070525T1400Z- 070526T0200Z/ ORANGE-PUTNAM-ROCKLAND- NORTHERN WESTCHESTER-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER- NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)- BRONX-RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)- KINGS (BROOKLYN)-QUEENS-NASSAU-NORTHWESTERN SUFFOLK- NORTHEASTERN SUFFOLK- SOUTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-SOUTHEASTERN SUFFOLK- 248 PM EDT THU MAY 24 2007
...AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM EDT FRIDAY...

THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION HAS ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY HEALTH ADVISORY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

SUFFOLK...NASSAU...RICHMOND...KINGS... QUEENS...NEW YORK... BRONX... WESTCHESTER...ROCKLAND...ORANGE... PUTNAM.

AIR QUALITY LEVELS IN OUTDOOR AIR ARE PREDICTED TO BE GREATER THAN AN AIR QUALITY INDEX VALUE OF 100 FOR THE POLLUTANT OF OZONE. THE AIR QUALITY INDEX...OR AQI...WAS CREATED AS AN EASY WAY TO CORRELATE LEVELS OF DIFFERENT POLLUTANTS TO ONE SCALE. THE HIGHER THE AQI VALUE...THE GREATER THE HEALTH CONCERN.

WHEN POLLUTION LEVELS ARE ELEVATED... THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RECOMMENDS THAT INDIVIDUALS CONSIDER LIMITING STRENUOUS OUTDOOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS. PEOPLE WHO MAY BE ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE TO THE EFFECTS OF ELEVATED LEVELS OF POLLUTANTS INCLUDE THE VERY YOUNG, AND THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS SUCH AS ASTHMA OR HEART DISEASE. THOSE WITH SYMPTOMS SHOULD CONSIDER CONSULTING THEIR PERSONAL PHYSICIAN.

A TOLL FREE AIR QUALITY HOTLINE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED SO NEW YORK RESIDENTS CAN STAY INFORMED ON THE AIR QUALITY SITUATION.

THE TOLL FREE NUMBER IS: 1 800 535-1345.

georgetheatheist said...

Mr. Mayor, puleeeze ban:

1. Stttrrrrettttccchhh limos
&
2. Trucks with nothing but advertising signs on them.

j.b. diGriz said...

It's actually around 15% or so smaller than at its fullest extension in the late 30's.

Numerous elevated trains throughout Manhattan and central/east Brooklyn were torn down around WW2.

Living in downtown Brooklyn affords excellent transportation options, true, but I don't mind the trains being more crowded if it means fewer cars on the road.

Ultimately, the congestion pricing will ONLY make sense if they dedicate all its proceeds to expanding transportation options. Municipal carparks or garages at subway line terminals make some sense. More importantly, a new train line running N/S in Queens along the old rockaway lines needs to get done.

Maybe explore 2nd-level tunnels under existing tunnels and stations to expand capacity?

Burying the 7 train? Underground trains can be made to be faster than elevated platforms.

KG2V said...

How about something simple... Bring back train operation style of the pre 1980s - you know - allow key-by and the like. Almost every line was able to run another 5-6 trains/hour, but because 1 drunk motorman had a wreck...