| Releases
& Statements
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2007
Contact: John Collins, Press Secretary
(212) 669-4193; (917) 496-4587
Release #: 021-2007
Public
Advocate Gotbaum: Traffic and Air Quality a Problem in All 5 Boroughs
- Congestion Pricing Plan Must Reflect Needs of All Residents
-
MANHATTAN
– Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum today announced her support
for congestion pricing, saying it must be a part of a larger mass
transportation plan to help improve air quality and get New Yorkers
out of their cars and onto subways and buses. Public Advocate
Gotbaum released the following statement:
“Congestion
pricing must be a part of a larger mass transportation plan. I
am extremely concerned that my constituents and small businesses
in Staten Island, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens, many of whom
have limited or no public transportation options, are going to
bear the weight of this policy. Traffic and air quality are not
just problems in Manhattan; they are problems in all the boroughs.
“The
congestion pricing plan must include an increase in mass transit
options - not just into Manhattan but also between the boroughs.
Right now, 75 percent of jobs in the region are actually outside
of Manhattan. People are creating traffic in part because the
subway does not move commuters quickly and easily between boroughs
without a trip through Manhattan.
“That's
why we should increase bus service into Central Business Districts
in all boroughs, especially downtown Brooklyn, Flushing, and The
Hub in the Bronx. Transit planners in New York should also learn
from the experiences of other cities and work to implement their
best practices on initiatives like Bus Rapid Transit. We must
explore ferry service options from Queens and Brooklyn.
“We
also need to help small businesses plan to meet the challenges
of a congestion pricing system. The Department of Small Business
Services will need to reach out to small business owners and help
them develop strategies to reduce vehicle use while continuing
to provide valuable services and jobs to New Yorkers.
“If
congestion pricing is to work, it will take an integrated effort
involving government, communities, and private businesses. Together,
we can reduce traffic, improve the air quality, and ensure that
residents in all five boroughs can get to work quickly and conveniently.”
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