Comptroller, Question 2

Question 2:
The Partnership for New York City estimates that traffic congestion is to blame for $13 billion a year in losses to the New York Metropolitan Region’s economy. What relationship do you see between the regional economy and traffic congestion? Which, if any, policies do you support to mitigate traffic congestion in New York City?
  • Comptroller Survey: stuartjavrick

    not the job of the Comptroller

  • Comptroller Survey: David Yassky

    There is a direct impact that congestion has on the regional economy. We will not be able to remain one of the financial centers of the world if it takes 20 minutes to travel five blocks in midtown. I support reenacting the Commuter Tax and using the funds collected to invest directly in our mass transit infrastructure to encourage the use of our subways and buses and cut down on unnecessary vehicle congestion.

    I support Comptroller Thompson’s proposal to restructure vehicle registration fees. By charging heavier, less fuel efficient vehicles more, we can incentivize more fuel efficient vehicles and raise revenue. The $400-500 million a year that congestion pricing could generate would pay for very significant expansions in our mass transit system.

    I will invest the pension funds in green technology companies that can help the environment while giving us a substantial return on investment.

  • Comptroller Survey: Joseph Mendola

    There is a very significant relationship between traffic congestion and business losses. We need to ease congestion by ensuring that our roads are paved correctly, that mass transit is a viable and convenient alternative mode of transportation and that the money we do spend on roads and mass transit is spent in an effective and efficient manner.

  • Comptroller Survey: John C. Liu

    I believe there is a direct connection between the regional economy and congestion. History shows us that those societies that have good transportation thrive: the Romans conquered most of the known world because they had a great system of roads; the British had colonies all around the world because they controlled the seas; and the United States became a super power because of its extensive transportation and railroad network. Our regional economy cannot thrive when a truck used by a business has to spent hours in traffic – hours that could have been used to generate economic activity.

    Because I believe all New Yorkers who drive have collective responsibility for our traffic congestion, I would support a traffic mitigation policy where all New Yorkers who drive would be responsible for paying some of the cost. I supported the Mayor’s congestion pricing plan because, although it wasn’t perfect, it imposed the cost of traffic congestion on everyone who drove a car.