I just learned that Rome also has congestion pricing (in addition to London and Stockholm).

Andrea Broaddus writes:
Rome has a cordon scheme restricting access to the city center during peak hours, with revenues invested in transit. A CIVITAS-funded project, it is described on their website, http://www.civitas-initiative.org/measure_sheet.phtml?lan=en&id=38. Or you can find a nice comparative study by our very own FHWA on European demand management strategies, including a case study on Rome which describes their road and parking pricing schemes, http://international.fhwa.dot.gov/traveldemand/t1_p08.htm.”

The Queens Chamber does actually suggest that congestion pricing would be a “tax” on Queens business owners who drive to Manhattan to do their business. That seems to be one of the main thrusts of their argument.

They’re not representative of all Queens businesses; I visit my Manhattan customers just fine without driving. However, I understand that there are plenty of businesses who do need to cart equipment or deliveries around.

Of course, in the business world time is money, and a reduction in traffic delays could easily produce an increase in efficiency that would more than make up for the congestion charge. They don’t seem to consider that, though.

Their argument that any transit fee is a “tax” (and all taxes are bad) is disingenuous, of course. I haven’t heard them fighting for the elimination of subway, bus and LIRR fares.

Why is everyone so consumed with the concept of congestion pricing. Couldn’t we achieve the same thing by simply increasing toll charges during peak hours. How hard could it be to re-calibrate EZ pass to simply increase charges at certain tolls during rush hour..?

agreed. In my view – they should have a toll on those crossings as well….

What exactly is wrong with bridge tolls? They should at least be put in place to raise money for bridge maintenance, so the bridges don’t start falling apart again like they recently were, before the long, expensive programs to fix them back up. Plus, the rivers form a natural boundary for a congestion charging zone.

disagree, and it is exactly the attitude that you find cabs are much more like public transportation that is outrageous.
Cabs drive around looking for fares adding polution and congestion. Limos idle often illegally and casue more problems.
And as I look out my midtown office, it is cabs and limos that are a mojority of traffic.
Very little is people driving in own cars.
Most other is delivery vehicles and trucks.
Perhaps at rush hour you’ll see more people driving to and from work…. but cutting down on that does nothing for traffic rest of day.
Cutting # of cab and limo rides would do that.
Bridges are there to unite this city… putting tolls on them creates barrier and separation and makes 2nd class of vast majority of city residents not living in Manhattan.

Glenn, it’s called the carrot and stick approach. Gotta have both. Or where are you getting the magical money for mass transit (and biking) improvements from? Carbon taxes? Hey, that’s not such a bad idea….

why do people feel the need to trample on other people freedoms? why do people feel the need to tax the working class out of manhattan? traffic is part of life in a big city, people make that calculation when they decide to drive over mass transit… wtf is happening to america, we are becoming a perpetual nanny state… we like to speak of freedoms but now have less than many of our peers. we do not need additional taxes on the people of nyc, it is already the most highly taxed area in the country, enough already. how about taking simple steps like putting up signs that you see in other states that tell people to stay right unless passing… it seems everyone like to be in every lane going slow and blocking everyone else. lets start enforcing those laws before we suck peoples pockets dry who are just trying to make a living in the most efficient way for them. enough of this BS. unfortunately this crap idea will taint the good things bloomberg has done.

What are you, some kind of Trotskyite?

I would think that, if successful, an $ 8.00 congestion pricing scheme would work to the benefit of most people (like exterminators or repair people)who need access to vehicles in Manhattan for their livelihood.

If I employ a repairman, whose tools and supplies necessitate a van, I’m paying that person at least $25.00 an hour (almost certainly more, especially with any benefits) plus a $3 bucks an hour or so for gas, insurance and wear and tear on the van.

If the decreased traffic saves that repairman one hour (of an 8 hour day) the benefit to the business owner is a $ 20 GAIN! ($25 salary + $3 van, less $8 fee)

That was the conservative scenario.

How about this scenario:

That same repairman is critically injured while working. The decreased congestion allows the ambulance to arrive 2 minutes earlier on the scene and can deliver the patient to the emergency room 3 minutes sooner.

Ask a doctor if 5 minutes of extra time in the emergency room is worth $ 8.00 to a critically injured patient?

This would apply to everyone, the working guy from Queens, the bike messenger from the Bronx, the hedge fund trader from Greenwich.

Everyone.