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Dec 19, 2007 7:32 pm US/Eastern
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Imagine This: Riding Buses & Subways For Free
One Man's Plan Would Raise $4 Billion For Mass Transit
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
What if people could ride for free on buses and subways in New York City?
Longtime transit lawyer Theodore Kheel has just such a plan, but if you use any kind of a motor vehicle you might not like it one bit.
To some it seems like Mayor Michael Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan on steroids.
"The goal is to solve the very serious transportation problems of this city," Kheel said.
At 93, Kheel is no lightweight. He's a labor lawyer and a transit expert. He has advised mayors and governors for decades. He says his new plan would be a lifesaver for every New Yorker who rides mass transit.
While Kheel's plan would make subways and buses free it would be the motorists who would pay and pay big time.
Kheel's plan would raise an amazing $4 billion a year for mass transit.
Here's how:
* Cars coming into the central business district would pay $16, not the $8 Bloomberg wants.
* The fee will be in effect 24/7, not Bloomberg's 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
* Trucks will pay $32 instead of $21
* And taxi riders will pay a 25-percent surcharge. The mayor's plan has no taxi fee at all.
To those who want to drive, Kheel says:
"This is of tremendous benefit to the vast majority and there will be some that under any system will benefit more than others," Kheel said.
Surprisingly, subway riders were cool to Kheel's idea.
"I think it's gonna be tough," Ron Baugh said.
Added another straphanger: "You have to look on the impact on that to the motorist. You don't want to jack it to them
Marian Goldberg quickly shot down the idea.
"Considering I live in New Jersey, I don't think it's a good idea."
Sam Coleman went to bat for the little guy.
"I think there are a lot of issues around that it's a flat tax, so it's really unfair to low income people who have to come into the city by car," Coleman said.
Kheel says there are many more benefits to his plan that people ought to consider.
He says traffic in Midtown would move 34 percent faster and bus traffic would move 23 percent faster.
He says if the city's going to get into congestion pricing it should get in with both feet.
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