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Report: Queens drivers will be hardest hit

By Marlene Naanes, amNewYork Staff Writer and amNY.com
More stories | MNaanes@am-ny.com

December 12, 2007

Nearly one out of every five drivers impacted by the mayor's congestion pricing plan would be from Queens, according to an Independent Budget Office report released Tuesday.

While Queens will be hit hardest in the city, with Brooklyn coming in second, the majority of drivers will commute from outside the five boroughs. New Jersey drivers top that list, according to the report, which was compiled from 2005 census data. The numbers also showed that motorists coming into the zone generally make more money.

"I think the report shows what we've been saying for awhile which is that people who drive to work in Manhattan are in higher economic groups than those in mass transit," said Bruce Schaller, a deputy commissioner with the city's Department of Transportation.. "Essentially, congestion pricing will not fall unfairly on the working person."

But some opponents of the proposed plan disagreed, saying it would unfairly tax middle class drivers from the outer boroughs. They have complained that under Mayor Bloomberg's plan, New Jersey residents would be able to deduct their tolls from the $8 congestion-pricing fee.

"The IBO's new report illustrates the unfairness in Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing proposal, where drivers from New Jersey, who represent a quarter of all current commuters, will not pay any additional fee at all, but New York City's already underpaid teachers, firefighters and cops will pay a disproportionately high share of the new fees," said Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Queens).