Congestion Pricing
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Bridge and Tunnel Traffic Drop Tied to Toll Increase
The Times reported Saturday that vehicle traffic on Port Authority bridges and tunnels declined by 2.9% in March, in the wake of toll increases that took effect on March 2. In typical bizarre fashion, the Times' lede asks, “Who needs congestion pricing when plain old toll increases seem to do the job?”
April 14, 2008
De Blasio’s Excuse: There Shoulda Been a Brooklyn Lock Box
Yesterday, a reader sent along City Council Member Bill de Blasio's letter to constituents [PDF] explaining his "Nay" vote on congestion pricing. Plenty of campaign fodder here, should someone who really believes in funding transit, bike, and pedestrian improvements challenge de Blasio in the 2009 race for Brooklyn Borough President. (His known opponent, Charles Barron, also voted no.) A few choice excerpts:
April 11, 2008
Will Pro-Pricing Council Members Suffer for Their Votes?
Should City Council members who voted for congestion pricing fear for their political futures? According to a story in today's Daily News, some do.
April 10, 2008
Silver and Assembly Dems Defend Their “Democratic” Process
In the latest New York Observer, Azi Paybarah talks to state legislators and other insiders about how the congestion pricing non-vote went down on Monday. Conclusion: Assembly Democrats told Speaker Sheldon Silver what to do, not the other way around. And by killing the pricing bill behind closed doors, the thinking goes, the Democratic conference rightfully exerted its power.
April 9, 2008
Gene Russianoff on the MTA’s $17.5 Billion Hole
Gene Russianoff, senior attorney for the Straphangers Campaign, talks to Streetsblog about the future of transit funding without congestion pricing. Direct quotes are in quotation marks.
April 8, 2008
Lew Fidler: Let’s Get to Work
Here's more on yesterday's congestion pricing debacle in Albany, this time from City Council Member Lew Fidler. Direct quotes are in quotation marks.
April 8, 2008
Three Questions for Richard Brodsky
We called Assemblyman Richard Brodsky yesterday to get his comments on the demise of congestion pricing. While he wouldn't talk to us on the phone, he fielded a few questions over e-mail.
April 8, 2008
It’s (Apparently) Official: Congestion Pricing Is Dead
Following an evening closed-door meeting in which state leaders discussed congestion pricing one last time today, they emerged announcing no deal had been reached. Here is a statement from Mayor Bloomberg:
April 7, 2008
Keep Hope Alive?
Over at the Daily Politics, Liz Benjamin reports that state leaders are negotiating behind closed doors and congestion pricing is still on the table. City Room is also reporting that Governor Paterson called an emergency meeting and the plan was still under discussion as of 5:45 pm.
April 7, 2008