metro
July 23, 2023 | 1:54 p.m
ex-governor. David Paterson slammed the brakes on the nation’s first toll system heading toward Manhattan — arguing that the economy has not yet fully recovered from the COVID pandemic and current traffic doesn’t warrant it.
In a Sunday interview with John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM’s Cats Roundtable, Paterson bluntly predicted, “It’s going to be a problem.”
“But the biggest problem of all is… the name is ‘congestion pricing,'” he said. “In order to have congestion prices, there must be congestion.”
“We have it every now and then, but not to the extent that we used to [the pandemic]. Because of that, Manhattan is in … an egregious situation where there’s really no commerce in the area, because nobody’s coming into the stores, because the buildings are empty, and nobody’s working in the buildings.”
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which will administer the scheme, has not yet set the price for the toll – it is now set to go into effect as early as next spring.
ex-governor. David Paterson claims current traffic does not justify congestion charges.Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images
However, it said driving in the targeted business district south of 60th Street could cost anywhere from $9 to $23 a day.
“How are you going to entice them to come when they have to pay $23 to get into the CBD when they arrive?” the former governor said. “That’s the real argument against it.”
Paterson said he supported congestion pricing when it was first proposed by then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg more than a decade ago.
The congestion price regulation is to come into force as early as next spring. AP tolls could range from $9 to $23 per day to drive a car in the target business district south of 60th Street.Portal
“But the recent problems in terms of logistics around the city… I wouldn’t be surprised if they surface in two or three years [put it up] for reconsideration.”
Paterson’s criticism comes two days after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy filed a federal lawsuit to block the toll. He argues that the US Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration failed to conduct a proper review of the impact on motorist unfair discrimination in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, Staten Island County President Vito Fossella said Sunday he would also sue to block the plan.
A newly installed array of toll collection systems hangs over West End Avenue at 61st Street.Portal
Fossella told the Post he is reaching out to other politicians on the outskirts who oppose the toll system and are likely to join the legal battle against it.
The plan is a failure for Staten Island residents because more traffic will be diverted to the borough to avoid the Manhattan toll, Fossella claimed.
“Not only will it be a financial drain, but air quality and traffic on Staten Island will also deteriorate. Who wants that?” the district president told The Post.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy filed a federal lawsuit to block the toll, per AP
He said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-SI-Brooklyn) and Minority Council leader Joe Borrelli (R-Staten Island) will be co-plaintiffs.p
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA have defended the awards program as a win-win that will curb traffic, improve air quality and generate $1 billion a year in revenue to bolster the transit service.
Local transport advocates also support the plan.
“Everything we do here benefits New Yorkers and people throughout the commuter area,” Hochul said after the government approved the congestion pricing plan.
“28 million people will benefit from the investments we will continue to make, not just for New Yorkers but for the entire system, which also serves neighboring states.”
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