Money will be earmarked to extend the Second Avenue subway from 96th Street to 125th Street, purchase over 3,000 new subway cars to improve reliability and customer experience on the 1, 3, 6, A, B, C and D lines, install countdown clocks at more stations along the Q, N, R, W, and F lines, upgrade lighting at Canal Street, Chambers Street, Union Square and Grand Street stations, repair stairs at Franklin Street, 14th Street (6th Ave/7th Ave/Lexington Ave) and Canal (N/Q) Street stations, and replace escalators at Bowling Green Station.
If congestion pricing is not passed? The MTA estimates that transit fares will need to rise by 27% to pay for essential projects.
In London, congestion pricing has reduced traffic by 15%, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20%. In Stockholm, the number of children going to the hospital because of asthma has dropped by 50%.
Shunan Teng, the owner of Tea Drunk in the East Village, sees the need for congestion pricing. “We’ve heard complaints from our regulars who come in and tell us how painful their journey to Tea Drunk was that day,” she said. “If that starts to play into people’s decision, then maybe they won’t come. That’s definitely a huge impact on the business.”
“Congestion pricing,” says Andy Darrell, regional New York director for Environmental Defense Fund, “is a realistic step we can take to reduce traffic, cut air pollution, and increase funding for public transportation.”
Get involved at fixourtransit.org
Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=ngqjP5Xvg20
