Comments on: Congestion Pricing Q&A With Rohit Aggarwala, Part 4 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris H http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37431 Chris H Sun, 23 Sep 2007 02:31:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37431 Had some more discussion about Environmental Impact Statements on this thread. http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/18/how-meade-esposito-could-steal-tomorrows-transit-dollars/ I don't think that its required. Other similar studies are fine, but an EIS takes a LONG time to complete. Had some more discussion about Environmental Impact Statements on this thread.

http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/18/how-meade-esposito-could-steal-tomorrows-transit-dollars/

I don’t think that its required. Other similar studies are fine, but an EIS takes a LONG time to complete.

]]> By: Hilary http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37376 Hilary Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:21:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37376 An EIS requires an analysis of alternatives and their impacts. It would show their disparate expected environmental benefits as well. This would let the public see the relative cost-benefit of different approaches. JMC - why on earth would you not want the benefit of this information?? While the environmental impact is paramount, an EIS also documents impact on historic resources. Others on this blog have mentioned alternatives technologies that require vastly different infrastructure. Don't we want to know about them?? An EIS requires an analysis of alternatives and their impacts. It would show their disparate expected environmental benefits as well. This would let the public see the relative cost-benefit of different approaches. JMC – why on earth would you not want the benefit of this information??

While the environmental impact is paramount, an EIS also documents impact on historic resources. Others on this blog have mentioned alternatives technologies that require vastly different infrastructure. Don’t we want to know about them??

]]> By: jmc http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37371 jmc Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:58:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37371 It is a bit ridiculous to compare the mayor to that other administration. What is the value of an EIS? Isn't it an environmental impact statement and not an economic impact statement? Then why does it matter who pays the tolls? The initial CP program is only a test, anyway. What sort of negative environmental impact could CP have exactly? It is a bit ridiculous to compare the mayor to that other administration.

What is the value of an EIS? Isn’t it an environmental impact statement and not an economic impact statement? Then why does it matter who pays the tolls? The initial CP program is only a test, anyway.

What sort of negative environmental impact could CP have exactly?

]]> By: Citizen http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37299 Citizen Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:22:08 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37299 Carolyn is 100% right about the value of an EIS. And anyone who went to one of the public "hearings" for PlaNYC knows that they do not satisfy the spirit of soliciting public input. They were presentations. This mayor is unfortunately as obsessed with mayoral control as another executive branch is. Carolyn is 100% right about the value of an EIS. And anyone who went to one of the public “hearings” for PlaNYC knows that they do not satisfy the spirit of soliciting public input. They were presentations. This mayor is unfortunately as obsessed with mayoral control as another executive branch is.

]]> By: JK http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37295 JK Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:59:46 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37295 Carolyn is not alone in feeling concerned about an EIS. A number of very experienced environmental litigators I have spoken share Carolyn's view. I too am very puzzled by why the city doesnt prepare an EIS in anticipation of the inevitable state and federal lawsuits. City Hall is making a big bet that the courts will buy the novel legal arguement that since pricing can be turned off, an EIS is not required. I want to see pricing and I hope the courts go along with mayor or this could be a very costly miscalculation. Carolyn is not alone in feeling concerned about an EIS. A number of very experienced environmental litigators I have spoken share Carolyn’s view. I too am very puzzled by why the city doesnt prepare an EIS in anticipation of the inevitable state and federal lawsuits.

City Hall is making a big bet that the courts will buy the novel legal arguement that since pricing can be turned off, an EIS is not required. I want to see pricing and I hope the courts go along with mayor or this could be a very costly miscalculation.

]]> By: Carolyn Konheim http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37290 Carolyn Konheim Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:23:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37290 Rit seems unaware that the State Environmental Quality Review Act is LAW. Complying with SEQRA may be inconvenient and more often than not fails its obligation to accurately and adequately disclose all impacts, but it is mandatory in New York State for all discretionary actions of government thatt have the potential for causing a significant impact. Making a dramtic difference is, indeed, the intention of the 3-year test. The virtue of the goal does not excuse compliance. Out of prudence alone, the City should be preparing at least an EAS to preempt 11th hour litigation. This means gathering and analyzing the extensive baseline data that preceded London's test program during the narrow window of time before mid-November for it to be valid. If Rit thinks the data already collected (or at least reported)are adequate, we are really flying blind. Traffic models may make imperfect forecasts, but the city is making down to the dollar projections based on appaent speculation, e.g., who's actually going to pay the $8 or $21 if other toll payments made the same day are going to be deducted? This leads to the importance of an EAS or EIS in examining alternatives. If, in fact, the congestion fee would fall heaviest on those now not paying any tolls (the free bridges and drivers crossing 60th Street), a compelling alternative to a network of 2000 charging stations to be examined in an EAS or EIS would be tolling those bridges and setting up a high-tech charging cordon across 60th Street river to river. If forthright analysis shows that charging at just 50 points accomplishes the traffic goals (both in and well beyond the pricing zone) at half the cost, generating twice the funds for transit, the EAS or EIS will have served the purpose of SEQRA--to enable INFORMED decisions. More of the unsupported, piecemeal bits that were made in response to the Assembly's questions is no substitute for a coherent data-based analysis in which all assumptions must meet the test of public scrutiny. I can't believe the Mayor doesn't know this and isn't protecting the city’s future—and his enormous psychic investment--by rounding up other than the usual suspects to begin a genuine environmental review. Rit seems unaware that the State Environmental Quality Review Act is LAW. Complying with SEQRA may be inconvenient and more often than not fails its obligation to accurately and adequately disclose all impacts, but it is mandatory in New York State for all discretionary actions of government thatt have the potential for causing a significant impact. Making a dramtic difference is, indeed, the intention of the 3-year test. The virtue of the goal does not excuse compliance.

Out of prudence alone, the City should be preparing at least an EAS to preempt 11th hour litigation. This means gathering and analyzing the extensive baseline data that preceded London’s test program during the narrow window of time before mid-November for it to be valid. If Rit thinks the data already collected (or at least reported)are adequate, we are really flying blind. Traffic models may make imperfect forecasts, but the city is making down to the dollar projections based on appaent speculation, e.g., who’s actually going to pay the $8 or $21 if other toll payments made the same day are going to be deducted?

This leads to the importance of an EAS or EIS in examining alternatives. If, in fact, the congestion fee would fall heaviest on those now not paying any tolls (the free bridges and drivers crossing 60th Street), a compelling alternative to a network of 2000 charging stations to be examined in an EAS or EIS would be tolling those bridges and setting up a high-tech charging cordon across 60th Street river to river. If forthright analysis shows that charging at just 50 points accomplishes the traffic goals (both in and well beyond the pricing zone) at half the cost, generating twice the funds for transit, the EAS or EIS will have served the purpose of SEQRA–to enable INFORMED decisions.

More of the unsupported, piecemeal bits that were made in response to the Assembly’s questions is no substitute for a coherent data-based analysis in which all assumptions must meet the test of public scrutiny. I can’t believe the Mayor doesn’t know this and isn’t protecting the city’s future—and his enormous psychic investment–by rounding up other than the usual suspects to begin a genuine environmental review.

]]> By: Anne (www.sustainableflatbush.org) http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37271 Anne (www.sustainableflatbush.org) Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:14:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37271 out of state driver enforcement is a good question, especially since so many people who live here are (illegally) registering their cars in other states for cheaper insurance. out of state driver enforcement is a good question, especially since so many people who live here are (illegally) registering their cars in other states for cheaper insurance.

]]> By: Aaron Naparstek http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37269 Aaron Naparstek Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:55:20 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37269 Thousands of people suddenly became handicapped after transpo officials in Rome, Italy began restricting driving into the center of the city during bad air days. Thousands of people suddenly became handicapped after transpo officials in Rome, Italy began restricting driving into the center of the city during bad air days.

]]> By: lee http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37268 lee Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:51:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37268 indeed. i hope by handicapped they don't mean everyone who has one of those rearview mirror hangers which allow parking in off-street parking lots but rather limit it to the City's SPPD permit which is much less common and allows exemptions to certain parking rules. indeed. i hope by handicapped they don’t mean everyone who has one of those rearview mirror hangers which allow parking in off-street parking lots but rather limit it to the City’s SPPD permit which is much less common and allows exemptions to certain parking rules.

]]> By: Gelston http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37266 Gelston Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:28:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37266 Why bother figuring out some elaborate way to exempt people from moving their cars on alternate side of the street parking days? It would only be $4, a small charge for free parking all day. The handicapped exemption is going to be wildly abused and generate tremendous resentment. It's easy to get a handicapped permit for one member of a household and then let everyone else use that vehicle. There must be a better way to let handicapped individuals recoup the cost of driving into Manhattan when they need to. Why bother figuring out some elaborate way to exempt people from moving their cars on alternate side of the street parking days? It would only be $4, a small charge for free parking all day.

The handicapped exemption is going to be wildly abused and generate tremendous resentment. It’s easy to get a handicapped permit for one member of a household and then let everyone else use that vehicle. There must be a better way to let handicapped individuals recoup the cost of driving into Manhattan when they need to.

]]> By: f(t) http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37264 f(t) Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:41:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37264 does anyone know how will the CP be enforced for the out of state drivers who don't have ez-pass? i understand that the bills are supposed to be send out after their plats are recognized, but how will they be obligated to pay those fees? a lot of them already decide to ignore their parking tickets. also i hope that public workers (nypd, fdny and many others...) will not be exempt from the CP fees. does anyone know how will the CP be enforced for the out of state drivers who don’t have ez-pass?
i understand that the bills are supposed to be send out after their plats are recognized, but how will they be obligated to pay those fees?
a lot of them already decide to ignore their parking tickets.
also i hope that public workers (nypd, fdny and many others…) will not be exempt from the CP fees.

]]> By: Boogiedown http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-37262 Boogiedown Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:29:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/09/20/congestion-pricing-qa-with-rohit-aggarwala-part-4/#comment-37262 Question: Would the system be privitized, or would the city maintain control? Question: Would the system be privitized, or would the city maintain control?

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