Replies to DrewG's Comments

Proposed Move NY Fair Plan Legislation | Closed Proposal

jdb386's picture
Moderator
1

Thank you, DrewG, for your nuanced and helpful comment. Another commenter has expressed a concern similar to your concern for the effect the new tolling system might have on those who are less financially privileged.

Assuming that traffic congestion in Manhattan and transit funding has gotten so bad that something must be done, could you think of a reasonable alternative that would accomplish the bill's goals and also better serve the whole of NYC?

Nick's picture
Nick
2

"“…The truth is that just 5 percent of commuters in Brooklyn, Queens,Staten Island and the Bronx travel to Manhattan by private car. Peoplewho drive their cars to work also earn 30 percent more a year than thoseof us who use mass transit. It is our poor and middle-class families whowould benefit from congestion pricing—as the fees charged to driverswould be used to improve the bus and subway system. ""Of all New York City residentswhocommute to work, only 5 percent drive to theCBD. Of that 5 percent, most (80 percent) have afeasible transit alternative to get to work that wouldtake no more than 15 minutes longer than theirauto trip. Therefore, only 1 percent of Manhattanworkers lack a viable alternative to paying a congestionfee or toll. The low- and moderate-incomeworkers disproportionately impacted by a fee or atoll represent a further subgroup within this 1 percent.Legislation that was proposed for considerationby the State legislature would have providedtax credits to compensate low-income motorists foramounts that they would have to pay in excess ofthe round-trip transit fare

A large number of low- and moderate-income residents would benefit from improved transit services under any of the three revenue-generating plans: As a group, low- and moderate-income New York City residents rely more on transit for their travel needs when compared with higher income residents. Therefore, these low- and moderate-income residents would benefit more from the shortterm transit enhancements that would precede a toll or fee imposition and from the expansion of the transit system made possible by increased revenues for transit investment."

http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop08040/fhwahop08040.pdf