Queens residents will have their first opportunity to express opinions, give testimony or even present their own proposals on how to reduce congestion in New York City.
The recently formed New York City Traffic Mitigation Commission, charged with studying alternatives to reduce congestion in the city, will host a public hearing at the York College Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, October 30 beginning at 6 p.m.
“These hearings are an important opportunity for New York City residents to voice their concerns or support regarding the traffic congestion and mitigation proposals,” said Queens Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer.
Meanwhile, Dan Andrews, a spokesperson for Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, said that Marshall’s office is currently reviewing recommendations she solicited from all of the borough’s community boards about reducing congestion. He said that her office has not yet determined how it was going to release that information.
The 17-member Traffic Mitigation Commission, made up of appointees from the State Senate, Assembly, Mayor, Governor, City Council Speaker, Senate Minority and Assembly Minority Leader has until January 31, 2008 to make its recommendations to the state legislature.
Once the city and state receive the commission’s recommendations, the legislature and governor will have until March 31 to vote on a bill in order to be eligible to receive $354.5 million in federal funds.
Discussions about a congestion pricing plan began earlier this year when Bloomberg announced a proposal that would charge car drivers $8 and trucks $21 to enter Manhattan south of 86th Street on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in an attempt to decrease congestion in the central business district as well as improve air quality in the area.
Those interested in submitting testimony at the hearings, please contact Andrea Miles-Cole, New York City Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission, 47-40 21st Street - 9th floor, Long Island City, NY 11101.
People can also call 212-383-7234 or log onto the State Assembly’s web site to fill out the form regarding submitting testimony: https://assembly.state.ny.us/comm/CongMit/20071017/
Public forum on congestion pricing
By Pete Davis
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