It’s apparent from the report (PDF) released yesterday that the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission took careful notes during the more than 25 hours of public testimony given on the Mayor’s congestion pricing plan. The report examines the Mayor’s plan, along with four alternatives reflecting concerns raised over several months of public hearings.
“Congratulations to the Traffic Mitigation Committee for releasing a thoughtful and fair interim report,” said Kate Slevin, Tri-State’s executive director. “The congestion pricing alternatives presented in this report were created by and designed for New Yorkers as a direct result of a successful public process. We applaud the Commission’s work and strongly urge the City Council and State Legislature to approve an equitable and effective congestion pricing plan that raises money for transit.”
The Commission met yesterday to discuss the findings of the interim report, and faces a January 31 deadline to recommend one or more proposals to the City Council and State Legislature.
Along with Mayor Bloomberg’s original congestion pricing proposal (setting the northern boundary at 86th Street, excluding periphery roads such as the FDR and West Side Highway, charging a $4 intra-zonal charge), the report considers four alternatives.
Alternative Congestion Pricing Plan
The first of these is an alteration of the original congestion pricing proposal. Most significantly, it shifts the northern boundary down to 60th Street. It also eliminates the intra-zonal charge for Manhattan residents. This change would significantly reduce implementation and operational costs because it dramatically cuts the number of license plate reading-cameras needed. It also addresses privacy concerns raised repeatedly during the public hearings.
The number of people impacted by the proposed congestion pricing fee would decline by about 46,000 drivers (25%), with most of the benefit accruing to Manhattan drivers. However, the plan evens that out somewhat by eliminating the current parking tax discount for Manhattan residents. The alternative plan would also assess a $1/trip surcharge for taxi and livery service trips beginning or ending in the CPZ, as well as a $1 surcharge for vehicles entering the zone without EZ-Pass, and would increase metered parking rates in the zone. This alternative is expected to reduce driving by slightly more than the Mayor’s original proposal (6.8%) and raise $520 million per year in net revenue for transit, about $100 million more than the Mayor’s plan.
