Easily the most contentious item in the mayor's 127-point plan to green NYC, congestion pricing has inflamed passions on both sides.
Sustainable transportation advocates and business groups call the plan, which would charge cars $8 to drive into Manhattan below 86th Street during peak hours, a proven way to reduce gridlock. They point to London and other cities, where traffic has gone down as much as 17%. But opponents, including Queens lawmakers, are calling the charge a tax on residents of the outer boroughs, some of whom live miles away from the nearest subway stop. Streetsblog does a good round-up of the plan's most vocal critics.
Some supporters of the plan said they were surprised to see Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz at the mayor's speech today, and wondered if the colorful politician would come out publicly in favor of congestion pricing.
So far he has said only that he would keep an open mind. Supporters point out that charging motorists could significantly reduce traffic in downtown Brooklyn, if fewer people are driving into and out of Manhattan.
-- Justin Rocket Silverman
Photo: Charles Eckert
