New York, NY – Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn), a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, praised the initiative of the Mayor’s Office of Long Term Sustainability today, but renewed his opposition to congestion pricing, saying the idea is a regressive tax on working middle class families and those striving to make it, and makes it more difficult for small businesses in the outerboroughs to succeed. 

            Weiner praised many reported elements of PlaNYC, including plans to expand affordable housing tax incentives, provide energy-efficiency rebates, claim city control of public authorities, speed the brownfields cleanup, construct a tunnel under the Hudson River and create new zoning to expand affordable housing. But, in addition to opposing the levying of a regressive tax on the middle class, he questioned the overall gains and effectiveness of congestion pricing.

Congestion Pricing Hits Small Businesses, Middle Class & Poor Hardest - Citing statistics from an Appleseed report for the Queens Chamber of Commerce, Weiner said the middle class and those striving to make it, and small to mid-sized firms whose business requires frequent trips to Manhattan would be hit the hardest by congestion pricing:

·        More than 50% of Manhattan commuters live in the outerboroughs, with an average income of $43,294. 

·        Assuming a toll similar to London’s plan, the congestion charge would amount to a new tax of approximately $3,500  for the average outerborough commuter.

·        Queens residents – who account for about 40 percent of all New Yorkers who drive to work in Manhattan – would incur more than $100 million annually in increased commutation costs.

·        A 2005 survey of Central London retailers for the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry found 84.2 % of Central London retailers’ sales declined in the aftermath of London’s congestion pricing scheme.

·        750 businesses in Central London have closed since implemented congestion pricing.

Mass Transit Can’t Absorb The Additional Riders – The MTA system hasn’t been expanded in 60 years, and usage of mass transit has gone up 36% in NYC over the last 10 years, exceeding population growth. New York City’s overcrowded mass transportation system isn’t sufficient, in terms of capacity, quality or accessibility to accommodate the increased ridership:

• About 57.5%, or 164,500, of projected car commuters would shift to public transit, that’s a 7.5% increase in MTA ridership
• Rush-hour ridership on many of the City’s subway lines currently exceeds capacity. The 4 and 5 trains are already approximately 20 percent over capacity during rush hour, other lines with comparable levels of peak-period crowding include the F train from Queens and the L train from Brooklyn.
• Weiner is a supporter of expanding Bus Rapid Transit, and has secured $736,000 in federal dollars for New York City.

Congestion Pricing May Not Reduce Traffic - The experience in London casts serious doubt on whether congestion pricing will reduce traffic:

• According to a report, traffic congestion initially fell by up to 30%, but roads are now only 8% less clogged than before 2003.
• After two years, London was forced to double its fees to keep traffic speeds above pre-charge levels and further cut congestion.
• 42% of London’s fees go towards administrative costs.

Reducing Truck Congestion - In the absence of a freight rail system, New York is dependent on trucks for delivery of goods and services, and the rise in truck traffic outpaces the increase in other vehicular traffic by a more than 3 to 1 margin. Truck traffic is the biggest cause of congestion in the City, this past January, Weiner released a four point plan for reducing truck congestion without implementing a congestion fee to all motorists: 

•   Increase Truck Tolls During Peak Hours: According to a New York State Department of Transportation study, 96% of Manhattan deliveries take place during peak hours.  To discourage truck traffic from passing through the City at peak hours, the Weiner plan would increase peak hour truck tolls on City river crossings that have existing tolls.  
• Incentivize Nighttime Truck Deliveries: The Weiner plan would encourage businesses to receive deliveries at night in order reduce truck traffic in the City during rush hours, an idea similar to the NYC Department of Transportation’s “Early Delivery Program” proposed in May 2006.  To compensate for any extra staffing costs associated with off-peak deliveries, Rep. Weiner proposes that affected businesses receive a City tax credit which would be matched by the federal government.  According to a 2006 study by the New York State DOT, a tax deduction of $10,000 may lead to more than 20% of restaurants switching to off-peak delivery.
• Implement NYC DOT Recommendations for NYPD Training and Trucker Education: Last May, the NYC DOT conducted an exhaustive study which found that poor awareness and poor enforcement of truck laws is a major problem in New York City.  Sixty-eight percent of truckers have little to no familiarity with truck laws and only 40 of 2,500 (2%) NYPD traffic enforcement officers are trained to do truck enforcement.  The DOT issued dozens of recommendations for improving law enforcement training and trucker education, which should be promptly implemented.
• Build Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel: New York City is the only major city not connected to the national rail system and, as a result, 99% of the City’s goods must be brought in by truck.  The 5.5 mile rail freight tunnel proposed by Rep. Jerrold Nadler would run under NY Harbor from Sunset Park in Brooklyn to Greenville Yard in Jersey City and take 1 million trucks off City streets.

Ferry Service - Weiner has previously laid out a vision for the City’s most under-utilized asset, its waterfront.  He secured $15 million for fast ferry service for the City, which he envisions being linked to the mass transit system by the Metrocard.

“While I applaud the Mayor for focusing on a long term sustainability plan for the City, in this case the cure seems to be worse than the disease,” said Rep. Weiner. “We must look at innovative ways to face the challenges created by the City’s own success, but a regressive tax on working middle class families and small business owners shouldn’t be one of them.”