Good morning, my name is Jessica Spezio and I am the Administrative Assistant for the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, PCAC. I’m speaking today in support of Congestion Pricing on behalf of transit riders and drivers around the region.
I live in a subway desert in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn. My options to get to work in Lower Manhattan are limited: with no rail service close by, I can take the express bus, a slow local bus to a long subway ride, or drive my car. Taking transit is still my best choice because it’s more affordable—even when taking the more expensive express bus— and often faster than driving.
My express bus commute gives me a pleasant, safe and comfortable one-seat ride into Lower Manhattan or Midtown, but during rush hour the ride can be slow and backed up due to traffic in the tunnel and on the highway. Often, an excessive number of vehicles slow down and delay the express bus, even when it’s in the HOV lane.
Congestion Pricing will speed up my express bus commute and make it an even more convenient way for me to get to Manhattan.
It will even help make taking the local bus to the subway more reliable and fast. My bus options include the B41 which runs on the extremely congested Flatbush Avenue and takes much longer than it should to travel towards the 2 and 5 trains. We desperately need investment in our buses and trains, and congestion pricing will make that possible.
Thank you.