The Sam Schwartz Plan Would Save Lives

. . . and reduce traffic, help price the negative externalities of driving, spread the cost burden more fairly, and raise money for maintenance and improvements. 

It's better and more nuanced than the Bloomberg plan was and would be an excellent component of NYC's transportation policy.  Again, however, there is the looming question of Albany's role in the City's affairs.

Seizing on a politically potent issue, congestion-pricing evangelist Sam Schwartz this morning made a pedestrian-fatality argument for East River bridge tolls. "The tolling policy of New York City puts probably 30 to 50 million miles more on New York City streets versus highways, because we invite people to go over the free bridges," he told WNYC's Brian Lehrer. "That results in casualties."

Again, I'm hopeful that this administration will recognize the benefits of the plan.  The question is, will the legislature and the governor?  We will have to make the case.   I expect to see a lot of effort put into this over the next 12-18 months.