Bill burns a bridge
Wednesday’s commuter hell on A, B, C, D, F, N, Q and (wait, one more) R trains was reminder No. 1,347: The subways need more cash to upgrade rails, switches and cars. Turns out, there’s a ready-made plan to raise billions to fix the trains and provide half-fare MetroCards for poor folks in the bargain.
It’s extremely progressive. And it even has the backing, rhetorically at least, of Gov. Cuomo, the single most important backer in Albany, where the idea has previously stalled.
So why on Earth is Mayor de Blasio — who, if he cares about anything, cares about fairness — hardening his opposition to congestion pricing?
The idea by Gridlock Sam Schwartz, a smart adaptation of what Mayor Mike Bloomberg tried and failed to get through Albany back in 2008, is to lower tolls on seven bridges serving the boroughs and impose reasonable fees on the now-untolled East River spans and for traffic crossing 60th St.
Yet de Blasio, who’s previously just expressed doubt about Move NY’s political viability, now goes so far as to call it “inconceivable,” and to say he “does not believe” in it.
What is closer to inconceivable is de Blasio’s push to increase the income tax on the top earners to pay for subways repairs and subsidized MetroCards. Congestion pricing is actually gathering steam — and will go further still, provided more people spend political capital to get it done.
It’s not just that the plan would generate revenue. And rationalize an asinine bridge toll scheme. It’s an objectively fairer way to distribute the burden on those who use New York City’s roads.
The Bronx, the poorest county in the state, has four toll bridges (Triborough, Whitestone, Throgs Neck and Henry Hudson). Move NY would lower tolls on all four bridges either 38% or 43%. Why is de Blasio against that?
Queens has five tolled crossings (Triborough, Whitestone, Throgs Neck, Marine Parkway and Cross Bay). Move NY would lower the cost on all five spans. Why is de Blasio against that?
The only way to drive off Staten Island is to pay a toll and Move NY lowers the fare on the Verrazano by 43%. Why is de Blasio against that?
Meantime, all five boroughs will gain with better subways and buses and roads. Why is de Blasio against that?
Yes, tolls will rise for some. But the people who will chip in by paying tolls on the East River crossings and by crossing 60th St. have, on average, higher incomes than the people on the trains — to say nothing of the people in or near poverty who would benefit from half-priced MetroCards.
Why is de Blasio against that? Could it be because he’s running for reelection and is worried about further irritating a few already perturbed constituents? No, couldn’t possibly be.