The Brian Lehrer Show

Regarding congestion pricing:

1) If congestion pricing is supposed to deter driving into Manhattan then how can the revenue stream be considered steady? If the real desire were to reduce car usage, then wouldn't the expectation be that less and less revenue comes in over time?

2) Has anyone done a study regarding the environmental impact of the infrastructure upgrades required to support alternate transit? It will take 15 years or more of major capital improvements which will require LOTS of heavy machinery belching black smoke into the air for years. It will also cause MORE traffic and idling while the work is being done.

3) No exemptions for scooters, motorcycles and other 2wheeled powered vehicles? This is ludicrous. They occupy 1/4 to 1/8 the space of a compact car, put out nominal emissions and get 50miles per gallon of fuel.

This is a THREE-CARD-MONTY Scheme devised by the politicians in this state to impose a new tax to partially fund the MTA while diverting other funds from the MTA - As Pataki did for 12 years.

- If you want to raise taxes, that is fine. Just bee honest about it!

Don't insult the taxpayers in this City by claiming that this will address congestion. If you want to address congestion then reduce the Number of taxis operating in the City during the day by 10-15%; Use Non-driving days for private cars based on day of week.

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I have a RADICAL idea which NO ONE in the history of mankind HAS EVER THOUGHT Of - Impose a $5 or $8 Fee on cars that check in to a parking garage in Manhattan from 6AM to 6PM.

This means NO NEW BUREOCRACIES and you are using an existing efficient process that will not cost ANY additional monies to implement.

Write into the law for this fee that ALL monies will go to capital improvements and that NO monies currently allocated to the MTA be diverted.

I need to drive into manhattan on a regular basis for work. I am carrying musical equipment so it is nessisary to drive. I support congestion pricing. Anything to get more cars off the streets. Its impossible to get to work half the time as it is now. I would make more money with congestion pricing. The 8 dollars is a very small price to pay to be able to actually be able to get to the gig.

Also I spend a good deal of time in London and congestion pricing works great there. The comment from the idiots that love there cars that congestion pricing doesn't work is just not true.

my son is immune supressed, and thus cannot be vaccinated: no subways for him. We are at many different doctors, and often. I know there is a proposed provision for doctor visits and hospitals, but the paperwork involved seems like it will be yet a second job...to a family that is already financially struggling.

it seems to me this is really unfair, and does advance the reality that we have constructed two cities.

And from all my time in hospitals, it is DIESEL EXHAUST that puts children in the hospital with excrutiation effects of pancreatitis—not cars.

message to the councilman and his constituents: take the goddamn subway!

Asthma rates are much higher in areas with high volume of truck traffic

I really don't care about this but i don't think public policy shoud be made based on personal anecdotes.

They could add designated taxi waiting areas as in many European cities. Instead of taxis circling around endlessly looking for passengers, passengers could go to them. This would save fuel and ease congestion.

Can a TAX on breathing be far away?

Was there ever any mention of a yearly voucher system allowing borough residents free entry into Manhattan? Say, 8 free round-trip rides into Manhattan thus, not penalizing occasional riders into Manhattan for living in the outer-boroughs?

If you are confined to a motorized wheelchair as I am, you don't have much choice. My last trip in I got stuck in Penn Station with a non working elevator! Sincerely, Joan Cornish

The westbound off ramp of the 59th bridge connects to 63rd street. If I drive in and continue uptown, do I avoid the $8?

Perhaps bicycles, motorcycles, and hybrid cars should get an exemption or discount from this.

It's good to hear how self-centered people are

Has anyone done a study of how much pollution will increase in the outer boroughs?

To those commenters from the outer boroughs: welcome to 2008! For those of us who live in NJ and help support the NYC economy by working in the city are already paying our fair share to get into Manhattan. Why should those in the outer boroughs be exempt from paying the same fees that everyone else pays? It's either congestion pricing with the guarantee that the funds go to MTA capital improvements or tolls on the East River bridges with no guarantee.

Aren't taxi's a higher-priced form of "public transportation"? One pays more to rent a taxi for the convenience of moving around outside of the more crowded main public transport bus & subway systems. The price mechanism has a rationing effect - making that form of public transit rental less available to low income or non-economic need travelers.

If the city is indeed going to grow to 9 million or more over the next 10-20 years, and the suburbs as well, congestion pricing is inevitable. Until someone can figure out how to increase the amount of space devoted to transportation, as population grows, congest will increase to the point of paralysis.

People will adjust over time. It's what prices do - send signals & alter behavior.

Why aren't car owners residing in Manhattan charged for driving in Manhattan?

How does it make sense that as a resident of an outer borough, it's perfectly fine for me to have to suck in air pollution? Even better, since I'll surely be sucking in more of it when all the drivers spend an hour circling my neighborhood looking for a parking space?

Listening to the bulk of the callers on today congestion pricing segment, I am struck by the selfishness and lack of willingness for shared sacrifice in the name of the common good. It is a sad reflection of the greatest problem in our society today.

It is ridiculous to argue that congestion pricing - and yes it is a tax - will not reduce traffic and improve air quality in Manhattan, improving commerce and livability for businesses, residents, and visitors now and in the future.

There's no doubt that the bill needs refinement from its current form to improve it and make it fairer, but to advocate defeating it entirely is simply bad citizenship.

To DAN #10 - Tax on Breathing is not far away! It is not very far from reality.

Currently walking, riding a bike and other basic activities are crimes that are fined by the City- so it's just a matter of time before we tax breathing or make it a crime where people can be fined for breathing in a restricted location or for breathing too much or the wrong way!.

Bill Berner #20: The Congestion Tax I believe is a short sighted, selfish tax. It does NOTHING to reduce congestion and improve air quality - There are simpler ways to raise this money or implement a similar tax. If you really want to improve air quality in the City and State and improve the mass transit system then let's start making the governor and mayor ACCOUNTABLE for the Mismanagement of the MTA. Bloomberg cannot claim he is concerned about COngestion when several years ago he increased the # of licenses for yellow cabs and livery cabs (vehicles that get 11 miles to the gallon).

IT's like me claiming that I'm for reducing alcoholism but then turn around and open a liquor store with discounts for frequent shoppers.

As an ex-Londoner I can vouch positively for the on-going improved outcome of 'congestion pricing'.

Human nature being the same the world over, (predominently self-interested), identical arguments were raised against it just as in NYC. But practicality, unbiased sensible thinking and care for the health of Londoners, tourists and the environment prevailed. London's system is highly regarded as a model for aspiration & I understand Mayor Bloomberg consulted Mayor Livingston when researching his plan.

Please, I've lived in London for the last two years before returning to Manhattan. We do not need to follow their model and it is anything but popular or a glorious success there.

The cause of much of this traffic in this area is the result of double parked cars (mainly livery cabs and limos) and delivery trucks that triple park next to those parked cars. Charging people money will not solve that problem. The solution (like in chess or baseball) is finding out how the opponent moves - not by throwing money and expecting results.

I work in Manhattan evenings, I drive in from Nassau County at about 2 pm and leave at 11:30 the LIRR schedules are only once an hour for the station near me. My commute home would increase from 35 minuets to possibly 2 hours if I can't catch the 1st train at Penn Station 15 minuets after I get out of work.

Bloomberg sucks

My situation: daily commuter from central Nj, 80% by bus, 20% by car. My office is in the garment center.

Observations:

1. 70% of the cars I see entering Manhattan thru the Lincoln Tunnel have only a single occupant.

2. Daily traffic during weekday rush hour is down so much you'd think it was a holiday...every day. Obviously gas prices are having an impact.

3. On occasion I drive thru the mid-town area during the wee hours at 30MPH. That speed makes evident what horrible condition the pavement is in. Anyone caring about their car or contents of truck would go slow to avoid damage.

4. Want to ease congestion? Put police officers at every corner from 60th Street down to force the pedestrians to obey traffic signals.

5. Driving cross town is a nightmare. The special thru streets don't work. A possible solution would be an elevated road with on-off ramps at east side and west side only. Perhaps at 23rd Street and 50th Street. Miami has elevated roads. Las Vegas Strip has just about eliminated auto-pedestrian interaction with elevated cross-overs.

Can NYC just ticket people for being asses and call it a day?

I'm sure that revenue alone can pay off our national debt.

This is just one more punishment for the small businesses that are trying to survive in this city. This will add to the hassle factor of doing business in the city and eventually hurt our economy.

If the real goal is to cut pollution, convert all the city buses and eventually all the taxis to run on natural gas.

If the goal is to cut down on traffic, enforce double parking by the major delivery companies such as UPS and Fedex by excluding double parking tickets from their prepaid annual parking ticket charges

I was surprised at the caller from the Poconos who claimed it was cheaper to drive to NYC than use NJ Transit/Metro North.

Simply put, that can't be right!

Taking an average distance (160 miles from Port Jervis to NYC), I would calculate the base cost for using his car per 2008 IRS business mileage guidelines IS ALREADY $80.80 a day . That's $1,696.80 for March (21 business days).

Whereas, a monthly pass from NJ transit ($344), an 30-day unlimited Metrocard ($81), a 20-trip PATH card ($26) and metered parking at Port Jervis for 21 weekdays in March ($63)--in other words, mass transit overkill--still only equals $514!

Obviously, (pun intended) your mileage may vary, especially using back roads, shortcuts, and whatnot, but a commute that's below these mass transit costs would have to be less than 50 miles a day round trip!

(...Now, ask NJ-ians if they can FIND parking at those train stations...!)

I have been living in NYC for 8 years. I have always been riding a bike everywhere.

in the past 2 years i have been living in Williamsburg.

I bought a cheap 1000 dollar Toyota Camry.

I occasionally drive into the city - if i have to pick up something.

or park in the east village and walk.

I always park legally.

In Midtown I see congestion - but it is mostly town Cars, cabs, commercial trucks.

I hate double parked cars or idling cars.

I am amazed how in the USA drivers let their cars idle forever.

that is what creates the worst pollution.

why not penalize idling engines? educate drivers to turn their engines off.

I think the 8 dollar fee is really penalizing low income artists like me.

it probably could create more congestions - for tolls etc.

the MTA has been raising prices constantly in the past few years.

8 dollars is a lot.

then why not tax luxury cars, SUVs that take more space and use more gas and create more pollution?

Anyway in midtown it is impossible to park before 6 / 7 pm.

I think there is a lot of demagogy,

all the fare hikes of the MTA did not improve service.

the metro card made it easier to raise fares.