Two huge deadlines face our deadline-averse lawmakers in Albany over
the next two months. One is the April 1 start of the new fiscal year,
the traditional date for passing the budget. The other is March 31, the
last day they can adopt a plan to cut New York traffic congestion
without risking loss of $354 million in federal funds. They can't
afford to miss it.
Last year, Mayor Michael Bloomberg came up with a plan to ease the
traffic that is hurting city residents, suburban commuters and
businesses. His congestion pricing plan would charge an $8 fee to cars
entering or leaving Manhattan below 86th Street on weekdays between 6
a.m. and 6 p.m. Though congestion pricing has helped such cities as
London, his idea drew a lot of fire.
Typical of Albany, the
solution was to appoint a study commission. It's due to finish its
report tomorrow. A draft shows that it has done solid research on the
mayor's plan, on an alternative that makes 60th Street the northern
boundary, and on other plans, such as one that involves East River
tolls and one that uses license plate numbers to ration who can drive
into the congestion zone.
Our point here is not to endorse any one proposal, but to remind
lawmakers that they now have the data they need to make a smart
decision - and soon. They have to pick a plan that uses congestion
pricing as its core, or the federal funds won't flow. That money would
beef up mass transit before the program begins, to carry the extra
riders that it's expected to discourage from driving. It's crucial. So
is the $400 to $500 million in annual revenue expected from the fees.
the next two months. One is the April 1 start of the new fiscal year,
the traditional date for passing the budget. The other is March 31, the
last day they can adopt a plan to cut New York traffic congestion
without risking loss of $354 million in federal funds. They can't
afford to miss it.
Last year, Mayor Michael Bloomberg came up with a plan to ease the
traffic that is hurting city residents, suburban commuters and
businesses. His congestion pricing plan would charge an $8 fee to cars
entering or leaving Manhattan below 86th Street on weekdays between 6
a.m. and 6 p.m. Though congestion pricing has helped such cities as
London, his idea drew a lot of fire.
Typical of Albany, the
solution was to appoint a study commission. It's due to finish its
report tomorrow. A draft shows that it has done solid research on the
mayor's plan, on an alternative that makes 60th Street the northern
boundary, and on other plans, such as one that involves East River
tolls and one that uses license plate numbers to ration who can drive
into the congestion zone.
Our point here is not to endorse any one proposal, but to remind
lawmakers that they now have the data they need to make a smart
decision - and soon. They have to pick a plan that uses congestion
pricing as its core, or the federal funds won't flow. That money would
beef up mass transit before the program begins, to carry the extra
riders that it's expected to discourage from driving. It's crucial. So
is the $400 to $500 million in annual revenue expected from the fees.
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