T.A. E-Fax: Support Congestion Pricing

Send an E-Fax to Congressman Anthony D. Weiner

Bus Riders will feel the benefits of congestion pricing

Congestion pricing is a boon to NYC's three million bus riders.

New Yorkers already pay a congestion charge; a tax levied by traffic that takes time, health and productivity away from everyone who lives, works and visits this great city.

The City's three million bus riders endure the slowest transit commutes in the nation. One in four children in central Harlem have asthma. Millions have a dismal quality of life caused by too much traffic on their neighborhood streets. And, everyone who drives for a living--from cabbies to plumbers--pays part of the $13 billion in lost productivity due to traffic congestion. On some level, we all know that heavy traffic is madness.

On Earth Day Mayor Bloomberg gave us a way out: a London-style congestion charge to fund a new generation of transit improvements while reducing carbon and congestion.

The day after the Mayor's Earth Day speech, a coalition of over 70 citywide environmental, labor, health, business and community groups, including T.A., said that the plan was as much the Mayor's as it was theirs and pledged to fight for it. All of the city's editorial boards lined up behind the plan and support is poised to grow as more people see the cost-benefit equation for what it is: a clear win for the city's supermajority of transit riders.

As expected, there were also reactionary naysayers and special interest kowtowers: the American Automobile Association and parking garage owners immediately derided the Mayor's plan. Representative Anthony Weiner, Queens Councilmember David Weprin, and a few other elected officials who should know better stood with them.

To fight the good fight, put the Mayor's green transportation plan over the top, and ensure a mode shift away from the automobile towards biking, walking and transit, we'll have to educate these elected officials and their constituents in the coming months. To accomplish this, Transportation Alternatives is mounting the biggest advocacy campaign in our 34 year history and we are going to need your help.

E-Fax to Congressman Anthony D. Weiner: Subject: Dear Congressman I am very disappointed that you have joined the American Automobile Association and the parking garage lobby in deriding the Mayor's transit-boosting congestion pricing plan as a "regressive tax on working families." Congestion pricing is, in fact, a progressive policy that would benefit the supermajority of New Yorkers. Only 5% of city residents commute to Manhattan via car; 95% that take transit, walk, bike, or drive elsewhere. In your district, only 6% of workers commute to Manhattan by car and compared to subway riders, those drivers earn about $12,000 more annually. The Mayor's plan will return benefits to your constituents and all New Yorkers through improved transit service, less congestion, quicker commutes, reduced carbon emissions and enhanced health, safety and quality of life. Until you can come up with a way to pay for $30 billion in transit improvements that are vital to the future of our city and environment, please stop obstructing progress. Sincerely,
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