Bloomberg Traffic Plan, Meet the Fidler Traffic Plan
About 30 minutes before the panel considering Michael Bloomberg's plan for congestion pricing holds its hearing in Brooklyn next Thursday, City Councilman Lew Fidler will welcome them by introducing a counterproposal.
His plan, Fidler just told me, calls for creating a tunnel to connect Staten Island to the city’s subway system, sinking the Gowanus Expressway underground, and creating the long-discussed Cross Harbor Tunnel.
“I’ve been working on this since June,” Fidler told me.
He said that the mayor’s plan is limited. “Congestion pricing, outside the fact that it’s ineffective and unfair, only addresses a small part of the issue in a small part of the city," he said. "Traffic and clean air are regional issues."
Bloomberg opposed the Cross Harbor Tunnel, a key part of the Fidler plan, during his 2005 re-election campaign. Fidler though, is optimistic: “The mayor had supported it, opposed it, and said he’d take another look at it. Quite frankly, I think the opposition to it was somewhat political at the moment.”
Fidler said he’ll release detailed reports on his 9-point plan Wednesday and discuss it at greater length right before the congestion pricing hearing.
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Sinking the Gowanus may or may not be an improvement, but it will have no impact upon congestion one way or another. It'll also cost billions.
Actually, it is one of the most congested roads in the entire United States. There are things that can be done to increase traffic flow that do not necessarily reduce the number of vehicles. Additionally, this is projct that will eventually pay for itself, thru increased parkland, economic development and housing. It is the exact same theory as Bloomberg has for the Hudson Yards. Brooklyn is no less deserving.
The Gowanus is a road that also constantly requires massive infrastructure cost to maintain. Can anyone remember a time since the 90's when there has not been a major road project going on to support this hellway?
And if that's your only comment, I assume that you accept the fact that the Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel and the Trans Narrows Tunnel will in fact reduce traffic congestion.
Thank you.
Excellent proposals, many.
Ways to pay for them, none, other than congestion pricing.
Nick, I didn't give all nine points of the plan to Azi. There is a far better way to pay for it. Stay tuned.
Don't be so focused on congestion pricing as to exclude fairer more profitable alternatives. That what the Commission is for. LOL.
Congestion pricing is estimated to produce 300-400 million per annum. As we now know, that is based upon several presumptions and guestimates which may well prove untrue. To collect that kind of revenue, we will probably see a doubling of the fee. At what point can we accept that this will just be a punitive charge demonizing that segment of the population that chooses or needs to commute by auto?
Further, given commitments to improve mass transit, has anyone seen a list of them all and what they would actually cost? I haven't and surely doubt that the 3-400 million will get the job done.
Keep your mind open. There are other better and fairer options.
Glad to see that some members of the City Council have a mind of their own and some vision. I wish Fidler were my Council Member. Sounds like he really gets it. I am anxious to hear the rest of his plan if it is as good as the first part.
The rebuilding of the BQE is costing billions now. The cost to redo what is by Brooklyn Heights will be at least 1-2 billion dollars alone. Sinking the tunnel may in fact cost less than the current rebuilding and rebuilding every 30 years that needs to be done now. The cost is comparable to the rebuilding of the Tappan zee bridge and the BQE carries 10 times the number of cars and trucks.
At least Lew can think out of the box. Not like my Councilman Domenic Recchia who is always thinking of the "deal" and pay for play schemes. What's best for me & my political career not for the community. When you get in bed with the developers you can kiss any independence good bye. Domenic talk to Lew instead of your handlers , at least Lew has a brain between his shoulders as opposed to what you have.
indemvoter, its ironic that it took Fidler to come up with a proposal helpful to Staten Island, not Recchia who has delusions of challenging Steve Harrison for the Democratic nomination for the 13th Congressional district which includes all of Staten Island and the right to unseat Vito Fossella the only Republican representing NYC in the House.
Harrison received a higher percentage of the vote last year against Fossella than any other democrat has ever received since the district was gerrymandered Republican, including Staten Island and Brooklyn elected officials.
Hicks in a Times piece on DeBlassio's borough president candidacy still mentions Recchia as a potential Brooklyn BP candidate. So if you are stupid enough to give to Recchia to begin with, you don't even know for which office. Keep in mind that no money given for a City race can be applied to a Congressional race. Also keep in mind every penny given to Recchia's Don Quixote like quest to beat Harrison in a Democratic primary (unless only some duplicitous election officials and local machine people vote. Harrison has the support of most regular people and community activists.)is as good as money given to Fossella because Recchia's ill advised candidacy will force Harrison to focus his energy on Recchia instead of Vito.
Since others have chosen to invoke my name, I wholeheartedly endorse Dom Recchia for Congress in the race against Vito Fosella. In the worst Republican Congressional year since FDR was president, Harrison couldn't break 43%. Having run a Congressional race in this district once before, I know how hard it can be. Our best hope is Recchia. Its not even close.
And despite the trashing here by those with an obvious agenda, Recchia has been an outstanding Councilman. His record on behalf of funding for youth, on education, libraries and cultural isntritutions stand out. His progressive voting record smothers Harrison, who has donated on several occasions in the psat to right wing Republican candidates. And Recchia has a proven record of delivering for his constituents...and heaven knows that is what this Cpongressional District needs.
Lew: You should reconsider your support to Dumb (not Dom) Recchia for Congress. He can't even vote for himself in a Primary against Harrison, nevermind the General Election. He doesn't live in the district. I thought you were thinking outside the box, but evidently you are still "boxed in" by the power of the Vito & the TJ Club. Even though you were knocked out of the race for Council Speaker by Quinn , don't act out your frustrations on Mr. Harrison. He's smart, honest, focused & welliked by his District people. Recchia is liked by CB 13 board members & soldiers to which he gives his "pay for play" member item monies to. Lets get real here. Recchia is for Recchia. If he did so much for libraries & cultural institutions why doesn't he become a Librarian when he is term limited. It will fit him to a tee.
Oh I might add, Dumb Recchia has really delivered to his constituents. He's delivered over development, increased joblessness, lack luster commitment for a cleaner Coney Island & Brighton Beaches, in bed with developer Thor Equities in Coney Island, & that in turn has turned CI into a ghost town. No creation of affordable housing. He's really delivered , Lew you are in living in the Twilight Zone and Recchia's constituents know all about it. For Sure. One thing he really delivered for himself was a nice fat raise to $ 112,500 for a part time job. He delivered the Green for himself.
Mr. Fidler.
I read on
Streetsblog that your ingenious funding plan is an increased payroll tax.
Besides being politically untenable, it's also the most regressive tax imaginable and discourages business.
The congestion change, as proposed by Bloomberg is the opposite.