Politics

Alternatives To Congestion Pricing Emerging

Tolls, Taxes Just A Few Of The Ideas Being Considered

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Mayor Michael Bloomberg's congestion pricing proposal may have hit a road block.

A host of new options are being explored. Drivers using the East River bridges may end up paying the price, but so could lots of others.

Bloomberg's proposal hasn't won a lot of fans, but neither is an alternative -- putting tolls on the East River bridges.

"I'm definitely against it," said Elpidio Compress of Staten Island.

Added Chad Holly: "I think it's horrible."

Said Wayne Haynes of Brooklyn: "I'm totally against it. We're taxed enough and I don't see why we should be taxed more."

The proposal to put tolls on the East River crossings comes as members of the congestion mitigation panel are looking for alternatives to the politically unpopular congestion pricing proposal championed by Bloomberg.

"The mayor's plan was sort of clobbered by the public at the public hearings and we've been asked to look for alternatives," said Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Westchester.

Sources tell CBS 2 HD that a number of ideas are currently being examined. They include:

* A payroll tax. Employers would be asked to pay about one-third of 1 percent of their salary costs.

* A congestion fee on taxis instead of cars. Taxis make up about 35 percent of the traffic from 68th Street south.

* A parking tax.

* A carbon tax for the use of gas and oil that cause pollution emissions.

* A fee for the thousands of special parking permits issued to government officials and others.

"At this point everything is still on the table," said Marc Shaw, chairman of the Congestion Mitigation Commission. "We are going to have a discussion of toll options. It's obviously controversial"

The Congestion Mitigation Commission has only until the end of next month to come up with a plan for funding mass transit and ending congestion.

Bloomberg said Monday he's willing to look at any proposal that helps unclog the streets and creates a revenue stream to pay for transit improvements. 

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