1) because we are not in a college class, or a corporate board room (someone should break the news to hizzoner). We are in the real world of urban politics in the largest most urban state working in the national political culture of Federalism where people have to get elected and some get turned out of office after two terms regardless of how good a job they did or what good policy they have proposed in good faith. The opponents of congestion pricing are not trying to win points in a debate class, there are no considerations of disjunctive syllogisms or post hoc fallacies, they are focused narrowly on defeating this plan and running their opposition up the flag pole in the next campaign. Facts, we don't need no stinking facts, or to mangle Ed Koch, "facts don't vote".

2) If the MTA proposed anything remotely like transit villages the Community Boards, the NIMBYs and the BANANAs would have Lee Sander tarred and feathered. Of the few supporters congestion pricing still has there are many who are also loud advocates of down-zoning in Brooklyn and Queens under the banner of neighborhood context. It is hard to be in favor of transit villages and to simultaneously be in favor of lower population densities near transit stops.

3) Structured as it is the TBTA is the largest resource transfer from private automobiles and trucks to mass transit of any State or locality in the country. The MTA is reluctant to change the toll structure given the critical need the NYCTA, LIRR and Metro North have for that money. Sure we can envision incentives but we cannot really know the results. Look at the NYCTA fare incentives. The average fare has been driven down to $1.30 and the MTA can't pull the political juice to increase it as a function of inflation. The system crowds beyond capacity as the fare falls and no more income comes in to support service increases. Then the riders won't support a fare increase or congestion pricing because they can't get a seat. No shit. Watch the MTA pull the variable pricing options off the table now, what other fate could possibly await variable tolls on the MTA crossings?

4)"All three would do wonders for New York City, if only Albany would pass them." They sure would, but would even the City Council pass them? I don't think so. And if the City Council won't do it, don't look for the Assembly to. Because those City Council members are term limited and the Assemblypeople want protection from termed out politicians horny for another job.

It would be pretty cool if some of the main in-bound Avenues like Second Ave and Columbus Ave could be made two way to alleviate the influx of automobiles every morning.