Comments on: Silver Calls Hearing on Pricing and MTA Capital Plan http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/ 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: Doc Barnett http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-45480 Doc Barnett Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:08:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/#comment-45480 Am I crazy for thinking that if some congestion pricing revenue does go to MTA "routine maintenance and operations," it would not be such a terrible thing? Isn't the "routine" the name of the game in trains that run on time, stations that are not disgusting, and all sorts of things that actually matter? Am I crazy for thinking that if some congestion pricing revenue does go to MTA “routine maintenance and operations,” it would not be such a terrible thing? Isn’t the “routine” the name of the game in trains that run on time, stations that are not disgusting, and all sorts of things that actually matter?

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-45479 Larry Littlefield Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:57:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/#comment-45479 Congestion pricing is much better than a commuter tax. The suburbanites add to the city, as workers and consumers. Their cars detract from it, through pollution and congestion. As in the Atlantic Yards discussion, the problem is the cars not the people. Congestion pricing is much better than a commuter tax. The suburbanites add to the city, as workers and consumers. Their cars detract from it, through pollution and congestion. As in the Atlantic Yards discussion, the problem is the cars not the people.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-45477 Glenn Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:41:25 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/#comment-45477 I hope that among the core benefits of congestion pricing from the MTA's perspective is that bus service will be dramatically more efficient in all areas where congestion is reduced. That's pretty much all express buses, regular buses that go through midtown and feeder buses in LIC, downtown Brooklyn and probably many others. Less cars = More frequent service (shorter time between scheduled stops, less bunching, etc) I hope that among the core benefits of congestion pricing from the MTA’s perspective is that bus service will be dramatically more efficient in all areas where congestion is reduced.

That’s pretty much all express buses, regular buses that go through midtown and feeder buses in LIC, downtown Brooklyn and probably many others. Less cars = More frequent service (shorter time between scheduled stops, less bunching, etc)

]]> By: Brad Aaron http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-45476 Brad Aaron Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:08:05 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/#comment-45476 Dave - Silver <a href="http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/02/14/queens-pricing-opponents-push-a-fantasy-commuter-tax/" rel="nofollow">voted to repeal</a> the commuter tax. Dave – Silver voted to repeal the commuter tax.

]]> By: momos http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-45473 momos Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:59:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/#comment-45473 Streetsbloggers: Don't let congestion pricing go down without having done something about it. Get on the phone and call your Assembly rep. It takes two seconds. Find your rep by zipcode and their phone number here: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/ And call Silver's office: ALBANY OFFICE LOB 932 Albany, NY 12248 518-455-3791 Streetsbloggers: Don’t let congestion pricing go down without having done something about it. Get on the phone and call your Assembly rep. It takes two seconds. Find your rep by zipcode and their phone number here: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

And call Silver’s office:
ALBANY OFFICE
LOB 932
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-3791

]]> By: Dave http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-45469 Dave Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:29:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/#comment-45469 I am not sure where Silver fell on the commuter tax issue but I hope someone gives it to Brodsky for repealing it. Tell him Congestion Pricing is a replacement for the commuter tax; a user fee that hits only his constituents that drive into the city. Once again where is Mayor Mike to speak out against Brodsky and the woefully ignorant city politicians who oppose CP? I am not sure where Silver fell on the commuter tax issue but I hope someone gives it to Brodsky for repealing it. Tell him Congestion Pricing is a replacement for the commuter tax; a user fee that hits only his constituents that drive into the city.
Once again where is Mayor Mike to speak out against Brodsky and the woefully ignorant city politicians who oppose CP?

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-45466 Larry Littlefield Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:13:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/#comment-45466 Aha -- some truth telling: "ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY" That is, in reality, the case for every public hearing. Give them credit for telling the public they don't really matter up front, thus saving time. Aha — some truth telling:

“ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY”

That is, in reality, the case for every public hearing. Give them credit for telling the public they don’t really matter up front, thus saving time.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-45465 Larry Littlefield Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:10:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/05/silver-calls-hearing-on-pricing-and-mta-capital-plan/#comment-45465 How much lower than zero are the odds that someone like me could show up and speak at the hearing at a time when the principles remain on the scene? I have enough experience to tell me the answer is no. But it is around the corner. I would have four things to say. First, there is a general equity aspect to this issue. Those who seize for themselves an outsized share of a scarce resource -- street space in the CBD -- should at least be asked to pay for the privilege, to provide some benefit to those who get out of their way. Second, there is a generational equity aspect. Those holding the hearing are of and for generations that have taken all they could for themselves and left those who came after with extensive debts and a diminished future. Meanwhile, retirement income is exempted from taxes. Younger generations may not even be able to afford cars when people Silver's age get through with them. They could at least give them something. Third, congestion pricing would take the place of tolls on the East River Bridges, and first and foremost should be used to maintain those bridges. After all, if the transit system collapses as a result of the past financial decisions of the state, we'll need those bridges to walk or ride bikes to Manhattan. The bridges, and the debts run up to rehab them, should be transferred to the MTA along with the CP revenues. Finally, if CP is not passed, and no real financial and traffic managment alternatives are provided, I hope it would finally awaken the majority of residents of NYC just how much their enemy and exploiter the members of the state legislature, and the limited number of interests in their clique, are. How much lower than zero are the odds that someone like me could show up and speak at the hearing at a time when the principles remain on the scene? I have enough experience to tell me the answer is no. But it is around the corner.

I would have four things to say.

First, there is a general equity aspect to this issue. Those who seize for themselves an outsized share of a scarce resource — street space in the CBD — should at least be asked to pay for the privilege, to provide some benefit to those who get out of their way.

Second, there is a generational equity aspect. Those holding the hearing are of and for generations that have taken all they could for themselves and left those who came after with extensive debts and a diminished future. Meanwhile, retirement income is exempted from taxes. Younger generations may not even be able to afford cars when people Silver’s age get through with them. They could at least give them something.

Third, congestion pricing would take the place of tolls on the East River Bridges, and first and foremost should be used to maintain those bridges. After all, if the transit system collapses as a result of the past financial decisions of the state, we’ll need those bridges to walk or ride bikes to Manhattan. The bridges, and the debts run up to rehab them, should be transferred to the MTA along with the CP revenues.

Finally, if CP is not passed, and no real financial and traffic managment alternatives are provided, I hope it would finally awaken the majority of residents of NYC just how much their enemy and exploiter the members of the state legislature, and the limited number of interests in their clique, are.

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