A decade after it died without a vote in Albany, congestion pricing is likely to become reality in New York City in 2019. It will be both a milestone and a first step.
‘Instead of trying to eliminate positions, advocates, officials—and pundits writing in the safety of their offices—should join TWU Local 100’s efforts to better protect transit workers.’
De Blasio, who has championed housing rights, public education, and access to services for New Yorkers of any immigration status, now needs to tackle the inequity of two million daily bus riders crawling through snarled traffic.
‘Bus Ridership in New York City is on the decline, and the Fast Forward Plan will not reverse this trend unless its focus is changed to make it more passenger friendly.’
Many details are still being worked out. But we do know half-priced fares will only apply to the purchase of weekly and monthly MetroCards, which some advocates say low-income riders will still struggle to afford.
Advocates are pushing back against the MTA’s plan to raise fares next year, saying straphangers shouldn’t be forced to pay more until lawmakers secure a plan to fund improvements for the city’s deteriorating transit system.
Andrew Cuomo has focused a lot of money and attention on infrastructure. Whether the city’s transit system has received sufficient love from the gov is a matter of much dispute.
Household income is rising, but so is the poverty rate, on Staten Island’s North Shore, where a lack of jobs and a dearth of transportation options appear to go hand in hand.
Even if New Yorkers continue to blame Cuomo for their lousy commutes, it’s unclear if that anger alone will impact the results of the primary. After all, many registered Democrats, like the governor, never ride the subway.
It’s likely the jump is because of broader awareness. But there’s a debate about whether to make penalties harsher for sex crimes on trains and buses.
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