Submitted by Patrick, May 7, 2007 12:44

Congestion pricing is not about money. It is about keeping our city viable, livable, workable, and most importantly, healthy. What you are basically saying is that you do not want anyone to do anything about the congestion and pollution in our town.

What the $8 congestion charge is cause drivers to give some thought about how they really want to travel to congested areas of our town. The congestion charge is less than any roundtrip commuter rail fare from anywhere in the city. The congestion charge is also less than a cash, roundtrip fare on an express bus.

Further, if you use a toll crossing to enter Manhattan, the toll is deducted from the congestion charge, so no motorist from anywhere in the city pays more than $8 to enter Manhattan.

The congestion charge will only be charged during workdays, and only during the day when congestion is the worst.

There are things that are more important than money. What is the price of clean air and a healthy, livable city.

Patrick M. Centolanzi, PE; Chair, NYC Transportation Committee; Sierra Club

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.