Mike Can Do More for City's Traffic

am New York | July 9, 2007

By John Ost

Re "Mayor's Sympathy Plea" (July 6-8): While Mayor Michael Bloomberg's interest in reducing traffic and air pollution through congestion pricing is commendable, I believe he has not done all he can.Congestion pricing amounts to a tax, which will be an onerous burden on those who can least afford it. London's fee started at 5 pounds (about $8) and is now 8 pounds (about $16).Should we expect anything other than increases if New York adopts a congestion tax? The mayor could easily solve traffic congestion with zero cost to the general public.Just yank all the free parking permits that government employees use to park their commuter vehicles and watch the traffic decline.The Schaller study commissioned by Transportation Alternatives clearly demonstrates that government workers commute by car at twice the rate of employees of private firms.

Submitted by admin on December 18, 2007 - 16:59. categories [ ]