By Alfonsina Venegas
On Thursday, a broad coalition of business, labor, grassroots, environmental and advocacy groups known as the Fix Our Transit Coalition got together in Bowling Green, to celebrate a great achievement. The law of congestion pricing that was envisioned more that 10 years ago by supporters of the cause recently was approved by legislators in Albany.
John Raskin, Executive Director of the Riders Alliance, acted as the MC and introduced the speakers to the podium. Raskin opened the act by saying:
“Congestion pricing is a policy that serves everybody. It’s an economic development policy that will help the city move faster so that goods and services can move around and will save billions of dollars every year for New York’s economy. This policy is good for real estate growth, for affordable housing, and for transit riders, who are the city’s working class, and folks who don’t have the option of taking private vehicles into the center of Manhattan.”
As the participants clapped and cheered, Raskin called on Senator Michael Gianaris, who said: “Without a functioning mass transit system the entire city will grind to a halt. We are seeing the consequences of that on a daily basis, people delayed getting to work, trains breaking down, things that need massive investment of funds and smart spending of funds, and that’s the process we have been going through this week, by passing a budget that finally gives the MTA the resources it needs to get the job done, but now we have to make sure the job gets done.”
Kathy Wild, of Partnership for NYC said, “This is going to improve quality life, it’s going to reduce cost for business and for private citizens and for people getting around, and it’s going to provide funding for our transit system.”
City Council Member Rodriguez offered, “This is good for the 8.5 millions of New Yorkers who may agree or disagree with the congestion pricing: When they see the results, when they see that more money will be used to make more train stations accessible to run their buses in time, they will see that this is a victory.”
As more advocates and grassroots individuals spoke at the podium, the turn for Assembly Member (57th district, Kings County) Walter Mosley came:
“This is a collection of people that normally won’t see eye to eye on many issues; but we understand that we all live in one city, under one transportation system, and to me, over these next 18 months, it is critical to think how we spend this money and how we manage it. We have one last mile and a half to be able to do what is right for the people we represent throughout the five boroughs of our great city.”
When asked about how the congestion pricing plan works, Mosley explained:
“It’s a program within the central business district in Manhattan, where people who come into that district will be levied a toll probably through some electronic device, and that money will then be allocated towards the up-keeping and upgrading of our transportation system as well as dealing with issues in regards to places that are transportation deserts. The idea is to expand on our bus routes and subway routes and all the places of the city that are under-served.”
Today’s sunny morning was perfect to celebrate the good news for the people that has fought hard to get approved these changes that our city transit system needs so urgently.
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