Congestion Pricing Plan in Trouble
New York City’s proposed congestion pricing plan may be in trouble.
As part of NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s long term sustainability plan, PLANYC 2030, congestion pricing is intended to reduce the amount of cars coming into the city, thus reducing the amount of auto emissions contributing to air pollution. While many city council members like the idea of cleaner air, some are questioning the details of the plan.
Based on a similar, successful measure in London, congestion pricing in NYC would charge drivers $8 to enter the city’s central business district on weekdays.
City council members have concerns about the use of the anticipated revenue and how the plan will impact neighborhoods just outside the boundaries. A large part of the $500 million in anticipated revenue is slated to go towards major public transportation projects, but some council members want to see that money used for smaller improvements and are questioning what entity will control the funds.
Council members in the outer boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx are concerned that their neighborhoods will turn into parking lots if this measure is put in to place.
The plan must be approved by the New York City council and the NY State legislature before March 31 to qualify for $350 million in federal financing. Mayor Bloomberg and city council speaker, Christine Quinn are both in support of the plan are are working to bring council members around before the March 31 deadline.
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[...] of vehicle traffic entering the city, although the proposal is meeting with some opposition, as writer Amy Stodghill reported earlier this month. Comment on this post Tags: congestion pricing, illegal parking, Lower [...]