Congestion Pricing
Streetsblog Basics
Brodsku
You've got to hand it to Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky. His anti-congestion pricing shtick is so finely honed it almost reads like haiku poetry. Here's a bit of verse I derived from a recent Q&A in a newspaper that covers important New York state political issues like, who is Albany's most eligible bachelorette? In the Poet-Statesman's own words:
February 13, 2008
London Imposes $50 Guzzler Fee on SUVs and Lux Roadsters
London Mayor Ken Livingstone is on a tear. Yesterday he announced a £500 million investment in new bicycling infrastructure. Today, he approved a plan to charge the drivers of SUVs, high powered sports cars and other large engine, high emission vehicles a £25 fee ($48.75!) to drive into Central London's congestion charging zone. Simultaneously, low emission vehicles will become exempt from paying the charge. In a press release, Livingstone said,
February 12, 2008
Has Richard Brodsky Ever Paid a Subway Fare?
Television news legend Gabe Pressman hosted a debate on congestion pricing between Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky and Partnership for New York City President Kathy Wylde on Friday. The transcript is online at WNBC and it's worth a read if you want to see Wylde catch Brodsky in a couple of small but significant mistruths and get a sense of the arguments that free motoring advocates are using to try to kill the Traffic Commission's anti-gridlock plan.
February 11, 2008
New Congestion Pricing Plan, Same Jeffrey Dinowitz
The recommendation of a modified congestion pricing plan put forth last week by the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission has elicited another editorial from Bronx Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz. Tellingly, the piece, from this week's Riverdale Press, starts off with talking points that fellow Assembly Member Richard Brodsky and "Keep NYC Congestion Tax Free" spokesman Walter McCaffrey have repeated again and again since the TCMC released its recommendation report:
February 8, 2008
State Senator’s Car is Towed During Congestion Pricing Meeting
Sources who wish not to be named send along the following story:
February 8, 2008
Who is the Livable Streets Candidate?
It's Super Duper Tuesday, primary election day here in New York. If you're still mulling your options and trying to figure out who the best candidate on Livable Streets issues is, Damien Newton of Street Heat L.A. and the editor of soon-to-be-launched Streetsblog Los Angeles, dug up the positions of the Democrats and Republicans for us. Grist and the Los Angeles Times have also done some nice candidate round-ups.
February 5, 2008
DOT: Relax Brooklyn, Parking Permits Not Just for Downtown
Borough Prez Candidate De Blasio Qualifies His Opposition to Congestion Pricing
February 5, 2008
The Human Rights Argument For BRT And Pricing
A map produced by the Pratt Center [pdf] shows neighborhoods with a high concentration of low-income commuters with long commutes.
February 4, 2008
Congestion Pricing Plan Includes a “Livable Streets Lock Box”
There is a nice surprise for City Council, neighborhood groups and transportation reformers in the congestion pricing plan approved by the Traffic Mitigation Commission yesterday. On page 8 of the plan, in a section called "Securing of parking revenues," the commission proposes dedicating all revenue raised within the congestion pricing zone from additional parking meter fees, a taxi surcharge and parking garage taxes to a new, New York City DOT fund for street and transit improvements.
February 1, 2008
Commission Approves Pricing. Next Stop: City Council
After five months of work and something like 14 public hearings, the Congestion Mitigation Commission has finally made its recommendation. Here's how the voting went down at this afternoon's meeting:
January 31, 2008