Monday, October 8, 2007

MTA: Congestion pricing cost too high

In a report detailing how a road tax would affect mass transit, the MTA outlined short-term service upgrades it would implement by next fall to prepare for the influx of riders who would be expected to leave their cars at home if congestion pricing were approved to begin in spring 2009. The report was released Friday to members of a commission studying congestion pricing.

Head-On Collision Over Traffic Congestion

The MTA report identifies $388 million of unfunded capital and operating costs associated with the service upgrades, and will likely add fuel to the debate on whether charging drivers to enter Manhattan south of 86th Street is the most practical way to reduce the traffic jams that are crippling the metropolitan region.

[Assemblyman Richard Brodsky said] between 35% and 55% of trips in the charged zone are taxis, which would not have to pay the fee.


Why is that? Taxis = cars, and I thought we wanted people to get out of cars and take mass transit. Hmmm....

Photo from EMBARQ Blog

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The logic board of our mayor's brain must be fried
or some crooked plot is hatching !

NYC is overcrowded so we need congestion pricing.

Yet he plans to cram in ....
was it a million more people by the year 2030....
in a city that's already busting at the seams ? !!!

I guess we need some more over development
to fill this bogus new quota.

H-m-m-m.....maybe it's to provide job security
for the builders so that they might return the favor
by contributing to various political campaigns !

What's your opinion ?

Unknown said...

Lets pretend we were all honest. Everyone knows that congestion pricing is a good idea, the problem is that a lot of us dont like to take the subway or busses in Queens. They are overcrowded, dirty and unreliable.
Honesty dictates that if we were GUARANTEED by New York City that that congestion pricing would pay for much needed transportation improvements for the people of Quenns (i.e.- more subway service meaning another tunnel and maybe another actual cross town subway other than the useless 'G' possibly covering the area of Woodhaven Blvd between Liberty and Laguardia apt.) whom the city's own study said are the people that drive into Manhattan the most. NOt the second Avenue subway that does not help people get to and from Manhattan.

Anonymous said...

Well the 2 posts before me hit the nail on the head 1 - NYC is overcrowded so we need congestion pricing.

Yet he plans to cram in ....
was it a million more people by the year 2030....
in a city that's already busting at the seams ? !!! & more subway service meaning another tunnel and maybe another actual cross town subway other than the useless 'G' possibly covering the area of Woodhaven Blvd between Liberty and Laguardia apt.)

So generate some cash by sticking up the developers with a development congestion tax which would build real transportation solutions for Queens residents to reach Manhattan. Get the Feds to allow stops in neighborhoods that the tram passes to the airports. Run dedicated electric light rail directly on major blvds. just as they do all over Europe. Pols always look for the legacy projects - time to serve the people and quickly before we all flee!

Anonymous said...

How about eliminating the 20-year tax abatements, or offering other tax incentives to developers to have them build. Do they really need incentives anymore?

verdi said...

I love it....even though it'll never happen.......
AN OVER DEVELOPMENT TAX !!!