Congestion Pricing

The16% of Bronx residents who own cars tend to have significantly higher incomes than those who do not, according to data from the State Department of Motor Vehicles and the 2000 Census.

A Quinnipiac Poll released today shows that citywide support for congestion pricing remains consistent at 57 percent -- compared to 58 percent a month ago -- assuming fees can be used to prevent transit fare increases. Given those conditions, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens showed majority support for pricing, with Staten Island opposed (45% in favor to 50% against) and the Bronx nearly split (47% in favor to 49% against).

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg announced that the city would today issue a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for firms "with the ability to perform all or most of the services required to design, implement, operate and maintain a congestion pricing program." Though RFEI submissions will not constitute actual bids for contract, the city is hinting that the firm eventually chosen for the job will be selected from the RFEI pool -- assuming congestion pricing clears city and state lawmakers, of course.

We can barely keep up with the international congestion pricing headlines these days:

Here's a job listing you're not going to find on Craigslist Westchester or in the Queens Tribune: The New York City Department of Transportation's new Office of Planning and Sustainability is (or was) looking for an Assistant Commissioner for Congestion Pricing. 

The Daily Politics' Liz Benjamin captured this little off-the-cuff gem in her interview yesterday with Brooklyn Council member Lew Fidler. Fidler, who called the 17-member congestion pricing commission "a sham," is emerging as one of City Council's most outspoken congestion pricing critics:

From the Star-Ledger:

Florida officials say HOT lanes are the answer to SoFla I-95 congestion