Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission

No one who comes before the NYC Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission is going to admit to liking congestion. If they're against the mayor's congestion-pricing plan, they are usually going to come up with some kind of alternative.

Hundreds of Manhattanites braved an indoor congestion zone Thursday night, struggling to find a seat before the New York City Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission hearing. The packed forum attracted hundreds of spectators, leaving balcony-only seating in the Hunter College auditorium.

The first hearings conducted by the New York City Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission were held yesterday, with one in White Plains and another at Hofstra University.

A constituent letter from State Senator Liz Krueger, representing the East Side and Midtown in the 26th District:

As part of its statutory mandate, the 17-member New York City Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission is conducting a series of public hearings to be held in each borough, on Long Island, and in Westchester County. The purpose of the hearings is to take testimony from the public, and to obtain and review information and proposals regarding traffic congestion. While these hearings are sure to be excruciating and Commission Chair Marc Shaw has noted that he's not a huge fan of the public process, it will probably be extremely important for people who want to see a greener, less gridlocked future for the New York Metropolitan region to make their voices heard at all seven meetings:

Media release from Transportation Alternatives: 

And we thought Bloomberg had a tough crowd...

Bronx Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz is hosting a forum tonight on Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan. Speaking in favor of congestion pricing will be Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City. Speaking in opposition to congestion pricing will be Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions. Both are members of the 17-person Congestion Mitigation Commission.

The deal that produced the 17-member Congestion Mitigation Commission mandated the MTA to "submit comments on the Mayor's [congestion pricing] plan" by October 1, 2007. In these comments, the MTA was instructed to provide the Commission with three items: