New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has been fighting for the implementation of a "congestion pricing" plan, which would allow the City to charge drivers a "user fee" to traverse certain areas of Manhattan during peak traffic hours (weekdays, 6 AM to 6 PM).
In a Fact Sheet distributed by the City, the Mayor is proposing that drivers be assessed $8 to enter Manhattan (south of 86th street), while "large trucks" would be charged $21. (Those remaining within the "zone" would be charged $4.00 and $5.50, respectively.) Drivers using the FDR and West Side Highway would be "exempt," as would "taxis, livery cabs, buses, and emergency and handicap-licensed vehicles."
Yesterday, State Senator Liz Krueger, an avid supporter of the proposal, circulated an e-mail providing an update as to the plan's status. Here's the text of that message:
Last month, the legislature finally took action on legislation addressing Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing proposals. While I had a number of concerns regarding implementation of the Mayor's original proposal, I believe that passage of a congestion pricing bill is very good news for the City of New York, and that the final legislation ( S.6432 ) we acted on provides the opportunity for those concerns and questions to be addressed. The commission we have created will consider all proposals to mitigate traffic, including the feasibility of the Mayor's pricing proposal.
The commission must submit their recommendations on or before January 31st, and the State Legislature must vote on or before March 31st.
My district encompasses much of the proposed pricing zone, and the need to cut the number of vehicles on the streets is clear. Congestion is much more than just an annoyance for drivers—it has far-reaching negative consequences to New Yorkers' health and quality of life.
In my district, for a significant part of the day, senior citizens, the mobility-impaired, and families with young children do not feel safe crossing the street because of gridlock with traffic "blocking the box" at every corner. In addition, ambulances, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles have great difficulty getting to those who need their immediate help.
A plan to mitigate congestion in the City's core has the potential to fundamentally change the transportation practices of the entire region. The commission we have created will ensure that the plan ultimately implemented is comprehensive and allows for maximum results. And a very important part of this plan is allowing the proposal to be first approved by the City Council, the local legislative body, meaning that those who are actually affected by our transportation infrastructure have a direct oversight role.
However, the devil is in the details, and there are a number of pieces left to work out. In the coming months, I expect answers related to:
1.) Implementing a long-term strategy that increases access to, and the reliability of, regional mass transit options, including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the 2nd Avenue Subway, and expansion of alternatives to private-vehicles into and out of the City;
2.) Resolving serious concerns about the potential traffic and parking impacts on communities in and around the designated zone;
3.) Ensuring that concerns related to the use of cameras as a means to enforce a congestion zone are sufficiently addressed, and civil liberties protected; and
4.) Re-evaluating the City's flawed parking permit system for government workers and reducing the number of unnecessary vehicles through the confiscation of non-justifiable and fake permits.
I look forward to working with the commission, as well as the Mayor and my colleagues in the State Legislature and City Council to develop a reasonable and achievable plan for addressing the issue of congestion in New York City's core.
Thanks, Liz, for fighting the fight!
