Ads Pitch Pricing Benefits to Transit-Taking Majority

By Brad Aaron
Feb 25, 2008

With the March 31 deadline to qualify for $354M in federal transit funds approaching, the Campaign for New York’s Future and the Empire State Transportation Alliance have rolled out an ad campaign to get the public behind congestion pricing.

The three print ads and one TV spot, sponsored by Environmental Defense, direct their audience to www.BetterTransit.org, where visitors can contact council members and legislators to voice support for the plan, and to the ED web site, which has a page devoted to pricing info. In a stroke of heretofore unknown marketing genius, the print ads will appear on buses, subways and commuter rail trains throughout the region.

Congestion pricing has just over 30 days to clear the City Council and state Legislature if New York is to receive hundreds of millions of dollars for upfront transit improvements. Transportation Alternatives recently launched its own pro-pricing PR campaign, with full-page ads in weekly newspapers in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.

Not to be outdone, pricing opponents will certainly ratchet up the volume — and the rhetoric — in the coming weeks. Be sure to enter the Congestion Pricing Populist Soundbite Contest to join in the fun.

Video via pmasoned/YouTube

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

It’s Time to Tell Your Reps to Vote for Pricing

By Ben Fried | Feb 22, 2008

The public hearings have been held, the commission has approved a plan, now the votes on congestion pricing are fast approaching. As the March 31st legislative deadline draws near, Transportation Alternatives and other pro-pricing groups are ramping up the advocacy. Yesterday, T.A. sent a message to supporters outlining its strategy. The ad to the right […]

With Congestion Pricing Dead, a $17 Billion Transit Deficit Looms

By Aaron Naparstek | Apr 7, 2008

We’re putting in some calls and getting some initial reactions to the State Assembly’s failure to bring New York City’s congestion pricing plan to a vote today. Michael O’Loughlin at the Campaign for New York’s Future said: Congestion pricing is dead. Long live congestion pricing. The Assembly still has to come up with a plan […]

Queens Chamber Continues Campaign Against Congestion Pricing

By Sarah Goodyear | Apr 25, 2007

Foes of congestion pricing marshalled by the Queens Chamber of Commerce held a press conference yesterday at which several politicians from the borough took a stand against the mayor’s plan. According to a press release provided by the chamber, City Council Finance Chair David Weprin called the proposal unnecessary: "I don’t think City Hall understands […]

In David Weprin's Eastern Queens district, just 4.2 percent of commuters would pay a congestion fee. Chart: TSTC

Get the Facts About Congestion Pricing in Your District Right Here

By Ben Fried | Jan 30, 2018

Bookmark these factsheets from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign to share with your State Senate and Assembly reps.

Paterson Backs Pricing, Introduces Bill in Albany

By Ben Fried | Mar 21, 2008

David Paterson is going to do right by his old State Senate district after all. New York’s new governor settled any doubts about his position on congestion pricing this afternoon, introducing a bill that follows the recommendations of the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission. The Daily Politics has the scoop: "Congestion pricing addresses two urgent concerns […]

Jessica Lappin: Congestion Pricing Advocate

By Jason Varone | Apr 15, 2008

This recent constituent e-mail shows that Council Member Jessica Lappin’s lukewarm support for congestion pricing seems to have turned into full-fledged support now that the proposal has no chance of being implemented (taking a page out of Assemblywoman Joan Millman‘s book). In Lappin’s defense, she did vote for pricing when it came before the council. […]