Congestion Pricing

Elizabeth Kolbert, author of the outstanding Field Notes From a Catastrophe, covers climate change for the New Yorker. In this week's issue, she takes up congestion pricing and Mayor Michael Bloomberg's 2030 plan:

The Daily News reports that most drivers to be affected by Bloomberg's congestion pricing are from the Upper East Side and Queens:

New York 1 covers the Mayor's announcement of New York City's new transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan.

In his most recent article for the Guardian, London mayor Ken Livingstone applauds Mayor Bloomberg's plan to introduce congestion pricing in New York City:

When Malcom Murray-Clark, Director of Congestion Charging at Transport for London, visited New York last month, he cited negative media coverage as a major obstacle to implementing the congestion charge in the English capital. By contrast, unlike some, New York media on balance appear willing to give PlaNYC, and congestion pricing, the benefit of the doubt -- at least for now.

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 that another unfair tax which would hurt working class people is not only uncalled for, but also unnecessary to reduce traffic. Before we tax people more we should first consider trying some simple traffic mitigation alternatives to reduce congestion."

With the above chart and these comments in mind, here's some food for thought from the PlaNYC Transportation chapter:

Forty-eight hours in, here is what some elected officials are saying about PlaNYC and congestion pricing.

Bookending his much-vaunted Earth Day speech with congratulatory video clips from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mayor Mike Bloomberg called for New Yorkers to take the initiative in the international fight against global warming, positioning himself as a leader on the issue.