Groups start ad blitz to support congestion pricing

With a congestion pricing vote only one month away, supporters of the plan began flooding the subways, newspapers and television with $500,000 in advertisements listing ways mass transit riders will benefit from congestion pricing.
Members of the Campaign for New York’s Future (CNYF) and Empire State Transportation Alliance (ESTA) announced the media blitz on Monday, February 25 - just two days before the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was expected to release its capital plan.
“These ads have a powerful message for riders: Speak up for congestion pricing now or pay later, with more delays, crumbling subway stations and decaying transit infrastructure,” said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign.
Members of the Transportation Alternatives and Citizens Committee passed out leaflets in Long Island City’s Court Square twice during the last two weeks and other volunteers distributed nearly 5,000 leaflets outside the Flushing Main Street subway station on Tuesday morning, February 26.
Mike Heffron, Chair of the Queens Transportation Alternatives and Citizens Committee, handed out flyers in Long Island City and said the recipients were receptive.
However, Walter McCaffrey, a former Queens City Councilmember and Chief Spokesperson for Keep NYC Congestion Free, said the TV commercial still left too many unanswered questions, including whether revenue generated would be guaranteed to go to funding better mass transit service.