Readers Weigh in on Congestion Pricing Plan

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Riverdale Press | September 20, 2007

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To the editor:Re: "What's wrong with congestion pricing" by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Point of view, Sept. 6.With all due respect to Mr. Dinowitz, there is a reason why the Bronx's leading elected officials have come to support congestion pricing: it benefits virtually every Bronx resident. With the exception of the wealthiest Bronxites who insist on driving into theManhattan Central Business District (CBD) on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can afford to do so, no Bronx residents will pay congestion pricing fees. At the same time, the overwhelming majority of Bronx residents who rely on mass transit will see those fees pay for significant improvements to subway service and bus rapid transit. And, of course, one cannot forget to mention how congestion pricing's reductions in traffic will help reduce the Bronx's out-of-control asthma rates.Mr. Dinowitz should know that statistics don't lie. Of Riverdale's 63,212 workers, only 3,269 of them drive to work in Manhattan's CBD and would pay congestion pricing fees (a number that would be reduced even further when some decide to switch to mass transit). Accordingly, less than 5.2 percent of all Riverdale workers will pay congestion pricing fees, while all Riverdale residents will benefit from the improved public transportation options, cleaner air, less traffic and better environment congestion pricing will produce. If he is to represent the best interests of the overwhelming number of his constituents, Mr. Dinowitz should join Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carri

Submitted by admin on December 18, 2007 - 17:02. categories [ ]