Transportation

State Rejects Plan to Mitigate Traffic Congestion

By Nichole Altmix 

Lawmakers in Albany, N.Y. have squashed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s congestion pricing initiative, which would have promised an expensive trip for New Yorkers commuting to Manhattan.
      
If passed, the law would have streamlined tolls for bridges and tunnels leading to Manhattan south of 60th Street, charging $8 per trip during peak hours, even for the currently free rides, such as the Williamsburg Bridge. To travel within the designated zone, drivers would be charged $4. The proposal was an attempt to discourage drivers from clogging neighborhood streets, reduce congestion in high-traffic areas and improve air quality.

When the City Council approved congestion pricing in March, they then pushed the final decision to state legislature, which needed to approve the measure to secure $354 million in federal dollars for the program.

The decision was a blow to the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority’s $29.5 billion capital program depended on $4.5 billion in bonds from congestion pricing and $9 billion from unidentified funders.

“The capital program that the MTA released earlier this year relies heavily on funding from [congestion] pricing to maintain and expand the transportation system that supports the region’s economy,” said a spokesperson for MTA. “We will continue to work with our funding partners to find the billions needed to make these vital investments.”

Since Albany’s rejection, MTA will now be forced to seek more funds from the unidentified sources.

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