Congestion Pricing to save NYC 's finances?

It is hard to say Uptowngirl. They tried to convince Albany before, but Albany didn't like the plan, because it was going to overburden New Yorkers, who have been overburdened to excess as it is.

So I don't think the congestion pricing plan will be noticed, despite MTA's troubles.

I think congestion pricing is an excellent idea. Not only does it reduce traffic congestion in Manhattan, but the extra revenue (from the fees, and also from more people being convinced to use public transit) will be badly needed. It's a wonder it hasn't been implemented already! I can't see any down side to this plan at all.

Me neither, DBlack. Just makes you want to grab these politicians by the collar and give them a good talking-to. Why NOT implement congestion pricing? It will finally help with the madness of Manhattan's traffic, and make extra money besides. What possible reason did they have for shooting it down in Albany?

@uraniumfish Who knows? maybe vested interests were at play?I just hope that we straphangers who use the public transport system are not socked with another fare increase anytime soon. Congestion pricing will at least give us some respite from these regular increases which have become quite the norm.

As long as public transport is subsidized somehow alongside this, I'm all for it!

But you people do not see it from the citizen's point of view. Being a former accountant I look at it from both sides. Yes, the amount charged would help the city, but it also means more money is coming out of strapped citizens of NYC. New Yorkers are already paying a lot for MTA, cabs, their apartments, and many other expenses for living in the city, and to add to this more money just to drive in a certain area of the city?

Yes, I agree the congestion in the city is a major problem and one I would love to see done away with. But at what price? Would you like to drive into NYC and know you have to pay an additional $6 or $7 just to come into the city at that location. Do you know what will happen? Trucks will refuse to come in to the city at all, or they will be forced to go out of their way to enter the city at another entry point. This will mean burning more fuel. This will mean raising the delivery price on the goods they are delivering. This will mean the store will have to raise their prices on the food items to compensate. If they decide to pay more at the entry point, it will still force the store to raise prices, because now the driver will have to fork out more cash, cash he didn't have to spend before.

Do you see where this is going. This is why the plan was turned down in Albany the last time. Those who live in NYC are overburdened now. Why add to it.

On the other hand, if a method of getting rid of congestion can be done without it costing taxpayers and citizens of NY, I am all for it. But so far I have not found one.

Anyone have any ideas?

@hhusted I agree its a catch-22 situation but it seems to have worked in other cities of the world quite well. Wonder what they know that we don't?
Btw since you seem to be in the know about matters of transport haven't you ever wondered why delivery trucks are allowed to park in bus lanes here in the city. This is a very NYC phenomenon for nowhere in the world is this allowed. I asked around and was told that these delivery companies pay the city fines in bulk annually to have the privilege of parking in bus lanes so that they can make their deliveries. Is this true?

From what I was told, no one is allowed to park in the bus only lanes. I saw a delivery truck get a ticket for doing so recently. I even saw a truck get towed away because he was in a bus only lane. I read an article one day not too long ago that truck drivers do not have it easy in the city. They are not treated very well. They have to double-park many times to unload their stuff and yet they still get tickets. Hey, if the city loves buses so much they gave them their very own lane to drive on, why not create a truck only lane for delivery guys. Makes sense I think.

@hhusted then where would the rest of the folks drive? but honestly I have seen trucks parked in bus lanes and have often wondered about it. I think having a dedicated bus lane is quite common around the world but parking or driving in the bus lane is definitely not. As you mentioned the drivers must get ticketed but I think the delivery companies factor the cost in in order to get their deliveries done on time.

@hhusted Look at this article , Governor Paterson is proposing introducing a payroll tax on city employers while reducing the tax on suburban employers all in the name of generating funds for the MTA. This is unjust and unfair -http://amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/city-mta-tax-unfairly-punishes-local-businesses-1.1749542
congestion pricing would be a better alternative for many new yorkers don't own cars and the tax would be largely borne by commuters who live in the suburbs. NYC has been a cash cow for the state for too long dont you think?

NYC has been a cash cow for way too many years. It is about time that people layoff New Yorkers and stop trying to get rich by abusing them.

Plus, if Patterson gets his way and taxes city employers, that may force them to either let people go, or raise prices on the goods created, or services performed. I don't know....

How I agree @uptowngirl. It seems plenty of big cities around the country are just seen as cash cows for local state and even national politics, rather than as entities in their own right. NYC seems to get the worst of it, though, in that regard...

Thing is, congestion pricing penalizes people who already HAVE enough money to keep a car in the city, and who use it in peak hours in the most congested part of the city. Most of New York City's "cash-strapped citizens" wouldn't be affected by this law! Frankly, I'm not crying about taxing the rich a little, which is what this would do. And it would also think about not practicing something which is a LUXURY, and making do with public transport the way the rest of us do. I don't think your analysis get to the issue at all on this one, hhusted. This is about rich and poor, and the rich using NYC as a private playground, while the rest of us have our quality of life diminished by way of noise, congestion, underfunded public transport, etc.!