(via the albany project)

So it looks like some sort of plan will be in development, but might not be implemented for some time.

Congestion mitigation is a worthy goal, but congestion pricing is a bad idea with dubious economic effects.

I doubt there is much disagreement on either of the above points.

It will be worth watching how the New York Commission on Congestion investiages the facts and comes up with recommendations.

We might gain some worthwhile plans for Philadelphia out of it.

__________________
Improving government for the average citizen


Thanks for electing Mark Cohen Delegate to the Democratic National Convention From the First Congressional District Supporting Barack Obama.

Bollocks.

The only way to "mitigate congestion" is to reduce the number of cars on the road at a given time. Aside from making driving more expensive, care to tell us how "congestion mitigation" might otherwise be achieved?

And, no, I'm not advocating this for Philly. But in New York it's (thankfully) a different story.

__________________
When life throws pies at you, make yourself a tall, cool glass of piemonade!

It seems to have worked well enough in London. New York is a different city, of course, but you haven't really explained why congestion pricing is "dubious" (a term reasonably applied to many of your actions in the legislature).

I believe it's "bollox".

__________________
"Power does what it wants." - George Carlin

Perhaps not among professional politicians.

Among knowledgeable economists, however, there is substantial disagreement with those points. I cite as an unfortunately indirect (but most quickly found) example a blog post from the author of the leading Macroeconomics textbook, Greg Mankiw:

http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2007/...ng-in-nyc.html

As between Rep. Mark Cohen (professional politician) and Gregory Mankiw (Princeton/MIT-trained; Harvard professor; NBER research associate), I'll take Mankiw's view any day.

I quote a maxim (paraphrased from Twain) that I frequently violate, but that Rep. Cohen might do well to remember on all issues economic: "It is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

__________________
"Everything that guy just said is bull$h!t! Thank you."

-- Vincent LaGuardia Gambini

I think alot depends on the context. In cities that are centers of national/international economic activity like London and New York, I'm willing to wager that the economic effects would be minor if any. And that's not even getting into access to public transit.

In a regional center like Philadelphia, I think most people will see how a congestion tax would be an economic burden, since the surrounding areas could find another place to do business. Not to mention that SEPTA isn't capable of picking up the slack. That's why Fattah's idea was so laughable.

__________________
"What's up Pops!" - Lebron James to Bush 41.

This is another blow to the working class. It's another act of class warfare against the middle and lower income for whom this will be a burden. They will be forced to choose between another bill, or not having the same privileges as those with more money.

The intention may be good, to reduce congestion, traffic and pollution, but the means are ugly. Charging a fee for use to reduce congestion means those without means to pay, are those being "reduced". If they really want to legislate restrictions on the amount of traffic, the only fair and equitable way is some sort of rationing system or some other random means of determining right to use the streets that doesn't depend on personal wealth as a criteria.

See my quote.

]

That was the primary argument recognized by this very good piece in the New Yorker. Although I hear your concern, the problem is that the only remotely good way we have of allocating scarce resources (like street and highway space) is through market mechanisms that force people to take into account the costs of their choices. As with many other goods and services, those with more money are naturally going to have a greater ability to avail themselves of the goods and services.

Also, although I have no data to back me up, I would bet that vast majority of the "middle and lower income" workers who travel to Manhattan for work don't drive a car anyway. So I'm skeptical about how much impact congestion pricing would have in a place like NYC.

Lastly, I'm legitimately curious how else you would propose resolving the problem of congestion in a place like NYC.

__________________
"Everything that guy just said is bull$h!t! Thank you."

-- Vincent LaGuardia Gambini