Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bus Rapid Transit

Staten Islanders Keeping an Open Mind on Congestion Pricing

4:11 PM EST on November 6, 2007

"Walking is Transportation" blogger Dan Icolari has extensive coverage of last night's seventh and final Traffic Mitigation Commission hearing on Staten Island. He reports "a notable unanimity" among Staten Island's elected representatives. "Even South
Shore Republican Councilman Vincent Ignizio -- a reliable foe of
government whose salary is paid by government -- said that despite great
skepticism, he was determined to keep an open mind."

All elected officials who attended (Borough President James Molinarosent a representative) declared their support for some sort ofcongestion mitigation program––but only if Staten Island's share of thedollars on offer from the Feds were made commensurate with the problemsof a borough whose average commute is acknowledged to be the longest inthe entire country.

Staten Island may be New York City's most car-oriented borough, but Icolari notes that many of those who testified at last night's hearing advocated for improving mass transit:

Patrick Hyland of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce expressedhis organization's support for Congestion Pricing, provided fivethoughtful recommendations that address a range of transit-relatedproblems experienced island-wide are implemented. Significantly, everyrecommendation involves mass transit.

•Reinstitution of rail service (roadbeds are deteriorated but right-of-way is intact)•Increase in the number of Bus Rapid Transit routes (the first and sofar the only such route was instituted earlier this year; ridership wassurprisingly strong from the beginning and continues to grow)•Fast ferry service to and from the South Shore--the most remote andleast well served by mass transit of the island's three community boardareas•Full extension of the currently limited-distance express bus lane on the Staten Island Expressway, and•A fourth bus depot (the third, already in the MTA capital budget, has already been outpaced by demand for express bus service)

The hearing, amazingly, adjourned 10 minutes early, at 8:50 pm. Icolari writes:

I took the bushome. No one else from the hearing joined me. We've obviously got a lotof work to do on Staten Island. But the (very) conditional willingnessof many Staten Islanders to at least consider some sort of pricingscheme to reduce traffic and improve local mass transit services wasencouraging.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

We Have the ‘End of Days’ Flooding Pics You Need Right Now

It's bad out there. How bad? Here is a citywide roundup from our staff ... and our friends on social media.

September 29, 2023

Labor Gains: Judge Tosses App Giants’ Suit to Stop Deliverista Minimum Wage

Justice Nicholas Moyne cleared the way for a long-delayed wage hike for workers who brave dangerous roads to bring food directly to New Yorkers.

September 29, 2023

Fed Up Bronxites Tell Mayor To Forget About Bus Ride Invitation After Fordham Road ‘Betrayal’

"I really would think that our mayor would be a little bit more active and speak with us, because he hasn't really made any time with riders. We're not the enemy. We just want better bus service."

September 29, 2023

City Pays $150K to Settle Suit Over Cops Who Harassed Man Who Reported Police Parking Misconduct

Justin Sherwood and his lawyer will pocket $152,000 to settle his federal civil rights suit against the city and several officers who harassed him following his 311 calls.

September 28, 2023
See all posts