New Poll: Most NYers support congestion pricing if money goes to transit
- Rich Kassel
- Senior Attorney and Director, Clean Fuels and Vehicles Project, New York City
- Blog | About
- Posted March 13, 2008 in Curbing Pollution , Environmental Justice , Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming
Today's congestion pricing post comes to you with thanks to our friends at Streetsblog.
A Quinnipiac Poll released today shows once again that New Yorkers are decidedly in favor of congestion pricing with revenues allocated for mass transit. The latest numbers indicate 59 percent approval vs. 38 percent opposed.
Here's the breakdown by borough:
- Manhattan: 73% - 23%
- Bronx: 57% - 39%
- Brooklyn: 51% - 46%
- Queens: 58% - 40%
- Staten Island: 55% - 42%
A whopping 89 percent say traffic congestion is a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem.
But here’s the trouble spot that needs to be addressed: most New Yorkers still aren’t convinced that the funds collected from a congestion pricing system would actually be dedicated to funding the MTA capital plan or other transit investments. Indeed, only 43 percent of voters say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely" that congestion pricing funds will be used to improve mass transit, while 54 percent say this is "not too likely" or "not likely at all.”
This is 100% in synch with the Albany discussions that I wrote about yesterday. Every discussion had a version of the question: what are the benefits in my district, and how can I be sure that these investments will actually happen?As the new Governor, the Legislature, the Mayor and the City Council work out the details of a plan to fund the MTA’s 2008-2013 capital plan that includes congestion pricing, one key task will be finding a way to ensure that the congestion pricing funds are, in fact, dedicated to the City’s and the region’s transit needs. And, legislators want to know exactly what investments are happening in their districts, so they can explain the benefits to their constituents.
Doing so will not only garner greater support for the program, but will help ensure that future New York straphangers will get the specific transit improvements they deserve and need.
Stay tuned.
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Comments
Frank Progl — Mar 21 2008 09:45 AM
Congestion pricing is nothing more than yet another tax and New Yorkers are already taxed enough. It will be paid not only by people driving into the city, but also by everyone in the form of higher prices caused by the higher cost of doing business in NYC. If we want to improve the flow of traffic, why not simply enforce current parking/standing/blocking traffic rules, provide more traffic control agents (like we used to have years ago) and and get rid of unnecessary government vehicles (not to mention those with fake parking permits).
Before we try to force herds of additional riders into our mass transit system, we need to carefully assess the impact and determine that it can, in fact, be accommodated without causing even more problems. Subway lines are already at or near capacity. Everyone complains about overcrowding now yet "improvements" to add capacity are years or decades away and projects needed to provide those improvements can only cause more delay while they are constructed. Adding busses can not come even remotely close to closing the gap.
Peter Roody — Mar 21 2008 10:40 PM
Well, if I believe you, I am in the minority (being against congestion pricing). I don't believe you. The majority of people do not endorse discriminatory taxation. This policy, if adopted, is another tax on the middle class. If you want to reduce congestion, just ban the black limos that contribute greatly to pollution and congestion for the benefit of a few (including bloomberg).
Up to this point, I have never voted based on one-issue politics. This changes now. I will never vote for someone who votes for congestion pricing. Maybe I am in the minority. We will see if that is true at election time.
Rich Kassel — Mar 24 2008 11:46 AM
Thanks, Frank, for commenting. As a fellow New Yorker getting ready for April 15, I sympathize with your concerns about new taxes. I'm really happy that you took the time to write.
But here's why congestion pricing is different than just another tax: it's fundamentally about providing billions of dollars to modernize, expand and rebuild the transit system to get ready for one million new City residents and three million new residents in the region by 2030.
While enforcing traffic and parking laws is always a good idea, doing so won't generate nearly the same revenue for the transit system, nor will it reduce congestion and improve air quality as much as the congestion pricing proposal will.
And, as for whether the MTA is ready for more riders, I share your concern. But the capital plan will open up Grand Central Terminal to LIRR riders, easing the burden on Penn Station and the always-crowded east side subways; there will be additional subway cars on many, many lines throughout the system, and as you mention, many new buses also. So, looking at the entire capital plan, I think the MTA is taking the right steps to make sure that commuters have more elbow room in years to come.
Last, I agree that the City really does need to crack down on the thousands of "free parking" placards that government employees use all the time, even when off duty. Last I heard, there are more than 140,000 of these floating around.
Again, thanks for your comment, and I hope that you stay tuned to my posts on this subject as we approach the final votes.