Public Meeting On Move NY Fair Plan This Thursday

This Thursday, February 19 at 6pm, a coalition of neighborhood groups, merchants associations, and elected officials — including the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, Community Board 2, and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon — is hosting a public forum to discuss the NYC transportation infrastructure plan from policy group Move NY.

Former city traffic commissioner “Gridlock” Sam Schwartz will present the plan, which renews the call for some congestion pricing tactics, including adding a toll in each direction on East River bridges that would create a projected $1.5 billion in annual revenue, which would go toward the MTA and improvements on roads and bridges.

In addition to the discussion, there will be breakout sessions where people can discuss individual aspects of the plan.

Explaining CB 2’s support for the public forum/town hall, district manager Robert Perris stated that “CB 2 got a presentation on the proposal in October and the transportation committee was quite impressed with how much it had been improved since Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan.

“We also thought it was important for the public to be informed about all the details. If people come to tomorrow night’s forum, they can hear everything about the plan, including how it can potentially benefit every user of every type of transportation,” Perris said.

He added that “tens of thousands of vehicles pass through CD 2 every day solely because the drivers are doing what’s known as toll shopping, [using residential streets and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges because they are free],” Perris added. “So pollution, potential safety issues are all side effects of the fact that tolls are unequal. What Move NY has proposed addresses that issue and would have everyone use those resources more efficiently.”

CB 6 chairman Gary Reilly added that “the Move NY plan looks to be a smart way to finally finance the investments everyone agrees on by recognizing the value of mobility, reduced travel times, and safety for all users of the transportation system. It deserves our serious attention.”

Still, some drivers are skeptical of the plan and its potential benefits.

“Raising tolls is always said to benefit New Yorkers,” the wonderfully named Frenchy Marine, a barber who takes the Cross Bay Bridge daily, told the New York Times, “but I don’t see us getting anything back.”

The forum will take place at the 3rd Avenue YWCA, located at 30 3rd Avenue at State Street. After the presentation, attendees will break into session to discuss the plan.

For more information contact info@move-ny.org.