It’s been a while since we’ve checked in on Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed congestion fee. As the various panels have examined the plan and proposed lesser alternatives, news has been slow. Last week, however, we heard that the plan enjoys greater public support if they money goes toward improving mass transit. Today, the news is worse.
According to two reports — one in the Post and one in the Daily News — the money from the congestion fee may not go to transit. I don’t think this guy is going to be too happy to hear this one.
Adam Lisberg from the News’ City Hall Bureau has more:
Drivers may soon be forced to pay up to $8 to drive into Manhattan – but there’s no way to ensure the money would go for mass transit as promised, the head of the City Council’s Finance Committee said Sunday.
“There is no guarantee that any of that money would be specifically earmarked,” said David Weprin, who represents a part of eastern Queens with poor subway access. “We shouldn’t be taxing the middle class if it’s not going to make a difference…”
Mayor Bloomberg and the MTA say the money should be used for bus and subway improvements that would get more drivers out of their cars and onto mass transit. But Weprin and former Councilman Walter McCaffrey fear government could instead use that money to offset other transit funding, or even to pay for projects upstate.
This statement by Weprin is not good, to say the least. First, without beating around the bush, it would be a tragedy if Albany used New York City’s congestion fee revenue to pay for upstate projects or use it to offset transit funding. I wouldn’t put past our upstate representatives who seem to have little love for this tiny geographical sliver of the state that is responsible for nearly the entire New York economy.
But more important is the money. Any money the city draws in from the congestion fee should, after paying for congestion enforcement efforts, go toward improving mass transit. If the congestion fee is implemented, a good number of drivers will eschew their cars for the cheaper confines of the subway and Bus Rapid Transit lanes that should be in place. But for the MTA’s various systems to handle the increased volume, they will need increased funding. That money should come from Albany and the congestion fee. It should not come only from the congestion fee with Albany’s thinking that they can slouch off on their financial contributions.
Right now, 60 percent of New Yorkers would support congestion pricing if the money goes to mass transit. The MTA and the mayor both expect those funds to go to mass transit, but Albany could still throw a wrench into their plans. Hopefully, our state representatives won’t do that. With Albany, however, all bets are off, and the congestion fee plan and mass transit upgrades are facing yet another hurdle in the state capital.
4 comments
This surprises you?
David Weprin has been opposed to congestion pricing since before the Mayor announced it, and has been making this statement from day one. This is nothing new.
The problem with his reasoning is that the state and city have been underfunding the MTA for years, and they could reduce their contribution whether congestion pricing passes or not. So his statement boils down to, “don’t trust the government.” Yeah, we knew that, but how are we supposed to get anything done without trusting it to some degree?
In any case, this doesn’t change the fact that since 1912 non-motorists have been paying city taxes to maintain bridges that they don’t use. When you’re asking motorists to pay a fairer share, it doesn’t matter whether the money goes to transit or not.
The Cap’n is right! I emailed Lisberg on saturday because of an earlier article he wrote, which characterized John Liu as a supporter of congestion pricing. Baloney!
Liu and Weprin, two of the loudest voices AGANST congestion pricing, are now trying to reinvent themselves, and the press is falling for it hook, line and sinker. This is all about instilling FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt). Liu and Weprin should both be ashamed of themselves for dishonesty I expect from the GOP, not Democrats.
And the newsmen should be ashamed for falling for it. I had to expalin to some people from my neighborhood that this was all a sham just two days ago. It’s frustrating how easily they’ve been able to sell this narrative.
[…] into view. But for the subways, this issue of funding should transcend congestion fee revenue. As I noted yesterday, the city and state should guarantee dedicated funding for the MTA outside of any money the MTA may […]