Rivera: Pricing Still the Way to Go

rivera.jpgCity Council Member Joel Rivera, whose stance on congestion pricing remained unclear until he voted "Yes" on March 31st, came out as a full-fledged supporter yesterday with an editorial in the Daily News. The Bronx rep added another wrinkle to speculation that pricing might come back:

Those of us who voted for pricing and those of us who voted against
it still owe our constituents a plan that brings traffic relief and
funds transit expansion.

I still think congestion pricing is that plan. But pricing or no, we
need to move forward and make good on the promises and expectations
raised during the past year’s debate. The Bronx and New York City
deserve nothing less.

Reading words like that from an elected official bolsters Janette Sadik-Khan’s assertion that "the terrain has fundamentally changed" when it comes to transportation issues. But as measures like bus lane enforcement cameras come up for debate in Albany, will the wishes of city lawmakers like Rivera sway obstructionists in the Assembly?

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Vacca Staffer, Running for Council, Bucks His Boss on Complete Streets

|
In a City Council district in the heart of the Bronx, where the overwhelming majority of households are car-free, an aide to Council Member James Vacca distinguished himself last night by vocally supporting congestion pricing, on-street parking reform, and protected bike lanes. The District 15 seat, representing Bathgate, Belmont, Crotona, Fordham, East Tremont, Van Nest, […]

Parsing the Council Pricing Vote

|
But seriously folks, here are some quick hits from last night’s congestion pricing council victory: All ten Manhattan and seven Bronx council members voted in favor. In Brooklyn the vote was 7-9 against; Queens 5-9, and Staten Island 1-2. Eric Gioia broke with his Queens colleagues to vote in favor of pricing, proving himself no […]

Pricing Clears Committee, Moves to Full Council Tonight

|
The Committee on State and Federal Legislation has voted in favor of the congestion pricing home rule message. Tonight, the full City Council will decide whether the state legislature can vote on the real bill. Transportation Alternatives’ Noah Budnick is on the scene and providing us with updates. The Daily Politics is getting the news […]