Will Queensboro Bridge Stay Free Under Pricing Plan?
BY RICHARD GENTILVISO

The Queensboro Bridge. Photo by Kevin C. Fitzpatrick, Dec. 2, 2007 from Wikipedia.org.

Across the East River, in Manhattan, the Queensboro Bridge is widely known as the 59th Street Bridge. Next year marks the centennial of its opening on Mar. 30, 1909. Will it still be a free bridge?

A plan to draw an arbitrary line at 60th Street will make a trip into Manhattan across the Queensboro cost $8 for cars, $21 for trucks, and a $1 surcharge (in either direction) for taxi, black car, and car service trips, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission, formed last July by Governor Eliot Spitzer and the New York state legislature to review proposals to reduce traffic congestion in Manhattan's central business district by at least 6.3 percent, recommended a congestion pricing plan only slightly changed from the one introduced last April by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, which drew the line at 86th Street and would have charged $4 for trips within the congestion pricing zone.

The plan, which also proposes increased parking rates below 60th Street, figures on raising almost $500 million in fees per year. The money is to go to mass transit improvements. A review by the City Council and Bloomberg will precede any final approval by the state legislature.

Assemblymembers Richard Brodsky (Westchester) and Herman D. Farrell, Jr. (Manhattan) were the two dissenting votes on the commission, which approved the plan by a vote of 13 to 2 on January 31.

Farrell said the [Traffic Congestion Mitigation] committee failed to address questions that he believes must be answered before any congestion pricing plan is implemented. He pointed to concerns about environmental impact and ensuring that money from fees goes to capital projects for mass transit.

Farrell also questioned whether the plan would deter drivers from New Jersey. Under the plan, tolls paid at other crossings can be credited to the congestion fee. As of March, Hudson River tolls during peak hours will rise to $8, essentially giving New Jersey drivers a free ride into Manhattan.

Queens commuters driving over East River bridges would be greatly impacted by the congestion pricing plan and 16 of the 18 members of the state Assembly from Queens have signed a letter of opposition to the congestion pricing plan.

The traffic committee is also recommending that communities next to or near zones where congestion pricing may increase "park and ride" activity be allowed to implement residential parking permit programs before congestion pricing begins.

Residents of Long Island City are concerned about parking in general, and commuter park and ride activity was identified as a specific problem at a Department of Transportation neighborhood workshop held in November.

"Commuter park and ride has impeded local residents from being able to park in the neighborhood," said a report prepared for DOT by Howard/Stein- Hudson Associates. Citing the park and ride problem, workshop participants were concerned that any congestion pricing program would only exacerbate the situation.

According to the traffic commission, the plan is modeled on successful congestion pricing programs in London, England and Stockholm, Sweden, where both programs have achieved significant reductions in traffic congestion while also raising new revenues for transportation investment.