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That looks pretty good. However, I don't think it's really reasonable in a city the size of NYC for people to be commuting by car. I'd honestly rather see the f

That looks pretty good. However, I don't think it's really reasonable in a city the size of NYC for people to be commuting by car. I'd honestly rather see the following: 1. Bridge tolls raised to make things even rather than reducing some to make them even. 2. Exception for trucks which transport stuff that can't be transported by train. 3. Use the money to expand parking at suburban entry points to the rail system and improve the rail system. The way I see it, bridges are for trucks transporting goods, not for people driving to work.

keevie 12y ago
Right, I don't disagree with you, but....that's not going to happen. It's literally politically impossible right now. So incremental steps are great.
- sliverstorm 12y ago
  No! I demand it all or nothing, right now! (the vibe I get from the typical political activist)
  - copsarebastards 12y ago
    That's just pretty basic political strategy. If you want to build a hotel on a pristine island, start off with a proposal to build 40 hotels on the pristine island. Then you compromise on 1 and you've got what you want.
WoodenChair 12y ago
You may not find driving across bridges palatable for the environment or congestion, but there are many situations in which it makes sense. For example, there are people with disabilities who can't take trains. There are workers who live in areas of Queens or Brooklyn not covered well by the Subway. There are tourists who want to drive into the city from neighboring states. I speak from personal experience. I personally hate driving into the city but I'm aware of many people/situations who for all practical purposes must.
- bostonvaulter2 12y ago
  I would think that tourists are willing to pay for the privilege, people with disabilities can receive a discounted rate based on their metro card which leaves only the workers who live in areas that are not covered well by the subway. Getting off track what I'd actually like to see is a standardized app/technology driven jitney/minivan system to help people make the last mile connections to and from subway endpoints.
- kchoudhu 12y ago
  * Access-a-ride exists for disabled people * We should be building more subways in Brooklyn and Queens. * Tourists can park in NJ or north of the city and hop on the trains. Your thinking is either transit-centric, or it buys into car culture.
  - nine_k 12y ago
    WRT more subways — I'm all for this, but it's sort of expensive and takes a lot of time. MTA is not exactly the fastest builder (see 2nd avenue line, PATH). Tourists driving onto Manhattan are probably a minor traffic problem. I'd rather have them pick some "tourist pass" at designated locations on roads in NJ than have them leave their car and hop onto a PATH train with all their tourist gear (possibly not very light) or take a taxi to avoid a high bridge toll. Having lived in Jersey City for some time, I can sympathize with people who'd rather take a car when they need a guarantee to get to NYC, because PATH can be canceled "due to a signal problem" unpredictably at any moment.
    - T-hawk 12y ago
      The PATH is not the MTA, it's the Port Authority. And the PATH is reliable just fine. It doesn't get "canceled due to a signal problem". I've lived in Jersey City or Hoboken and commuted on the PATH for over ten years, with maybe five instances of any difficulty at all aside from Sandy or blackouts. It's enormously reliable compared to the construction messes that occur on the MTA subways, where entire lines shut down for entire weekends. And the PATH is only touristy on weekends, there isn't competition between tourists and weekday commuters. Overall, NJ within PATH range is one of the best options to live affordably with a short NYC commute.

keevie 12y ago

Right, I don't disagree with you, but....that's not going to happen. It's literally politically impossible right now. So incremental steps are great.

sliverstorm 12y ago
No! I demand it all or nothing, right now! (the vibe I get from the typical political activist)
- copsarebastards 12y ago
  That's just pretty basic political strategy. If you want to build a hotel on a pristine island, start off with a proposal to build 40 hotels on the pristine island. Then you compromise on 1 and you've got what you want.

WoodenChair 12y ago

You may not find driving across bridges palatable for the environment or congestion, but there are many situations in which it makes sense. For example, there are people with disabilities who can't take trains. There are workers who live in areas of Queens or Brooklyn not covered well by the Subway. There are tourists who want to drive into the city from neighboring states. I speak from personal experience. I personally hate driving into the city but I'm aware of many people/situations who for all practical purposes must.

bostonvaulter2 12y ago
I would think that tourists are willing to pay for the privilege, people with disabilities can receive a discounted rate based on their metro card which leaves only the workers who live in areas that are not covered well by the subway. Getting off track what I'd actually like to see is a standardized app/technology driven jitney/minivan system to help people make the last mile connections to and from subway endpoints.
kchoudhu 12y ago
* Access-a-ride exists for disabled people * We should be building more subways in Brooklyn and Queens. * Tourists can park in NJ or north of the city and hop on the trains. Your thinking is either transit-centric, or it buys into car culture.
- nine_k 12y ago
  WRT more subways — I'm all for this, but it's sort of expensive and takes a lot of time. MTA is not exactly the fastest builder (see 2nd avenue line, PATH). Tourists driving onto Manhattan are probably a minor traffic problem. I'd rather have them pick some "tourist pass" at designated locations on roads in NJ than have them leave their car and hop onto a PATH train with all their tourist gear (possibly not very light) or take a taxi to avoid a high bridge toll. Having lived in Jersey City for some time, I can sympathize with people who'd rather take a car when they need a guarantee to get to NYC, because PATH can be canceled "due to a signal problem" unpredictably at any moment.
  - T-hawk 12y ago
    The PATH is not the MTA, it's the Port Authority. And the PATH is reliable just fine. It doesn't get "canceled due to a signal problem". I've lived in Jersey City or Hoboken and commuted on the PATH for over ten years, with maybe five instances of any difficulty at all aside from Sandy or blackouts. It's enormously reliable compared to the construction messes that occur on the MTA subways, where entire lines shut down for entire weekends. And the PATH is only touristy on weekends, there isn't competition between tourists and weekday commuters. Overall, NJ within PATH range is one of the best options to live affordably with a short NYC commute.