Royal Flush-ing*** Congestion Pricing Pro and Con

Written by Jose Martinez. Comment by a concerned observer*** Comment** And of course, at no time does anyone question the folly of giving any additional funds to the MTA which has mismanaged both planning and funding its projects for years. Now Adams and the Queens council woman are now feeling the heat. I think it’s going down. The lawsuits, especially from NJ are significant. The whole plan was poorly thought out and implemented, and the arrogant policy wonks from TA at the DOT took their power for granted when they had already alienated a large part of the driving and non-driving public. No one really sees this as an improvement. And the financial situation has changed for the worse for most people, they have less tolerance, and there’s no real benefit for the average person. Does anyone believe that service is going to get better on the MTA? Stay tuned. And watch the slow train wreck this will be, even if it starts, it will be the next big issue point for the public for the next Mayor*** > > > Transit Bucks on the Line > > Lawsuits aimed at derailing congestion pricing are delaying $15 billion in long-planned improvements to the transit system, MTA officials warned this week. > > Subway signal upgrades on multiple lines, accessibility upgrades at 20 stations and the expansion of the Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem are among the key projects in the MTA’s capital program that are imperiled by legal challenges to the first-in-the-nation vehicle-tolling plan. > > Those projects would be funded by money raised by the congestion plan, which would put $15 tolls on motorists driving into the densest parts of Manhattan. The state legislature approved congestion pricing in 2019, but its rollout has been repeatedly delayed. > > “The future of these projects is on the line — $15 billion worth of our work is not able to get done or implemented or started up,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, president of MTA Construction and Development, at a public hearing Tuesday on the toll plan. > > The long-delayed effort to toll motorists driving south of 60th Street in Manhattan is facing several lawsuits that have been filed by politicians that include New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fosella. > > — Jose Martinez > > Royal Flush-ing > Virus-free.www.avast.com