News Release
Contact: Gene Russianoff or Neysa Pranger (917) 575-9434 or (917) 532-0567 NYPIRG/Straphangers Campaign
Bud Perrone (212) 843-8068 or Iva Benson (212) 843-8271 Rubenstein Communications
For Immediate Release
GROUPS DISPUTE QUINNIPIAC POLL FINDINGS ON CONGESTION PRICING
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SAY POLL FAILED TO POINT OUT
HEALTH, TRANSIT AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
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POSITIVE REACTION FOUND IN ANOTHER POLL
New York, NY (May 24, 2007) – The Campaign for New York’s Future, a broad coalition comprised of 80 environmental, public health, civic, labor, community and business organizations supporting Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC 2030 and its proposals to raise billions of dollars for badly-needed transit projects – today disputed findings of a Quinnipiac University poll of New Yorkers on congestion pricing.
The Campaign noted that the Quinnipiac survey failed to ask those polled about congestion pricing, a proposal by Mayor Bloomberg in which drivers would be charged $8 to drive a vehicle into Manhattan below 86th Street during weekday rush-hours, if their views would change when told that the initiative would:
• improve public health by greatly reducing air pollution;
• fund $31 billion dollars in very badly-need transit repairs and expansions;
• improve public health by greatly reducing air pollution; and
• fight the menace of global warming with a 30% reduction in carbon emissions.
“When New Yorkers learn of the many benefits that come from congestion pricing, they become supporters,” Gene Russianoff of NYPIRG/Straphangers Campaign, a member of the 80-plus groups in the Campaign for New York’s Future. “That has been the case in London and Stockholm, where initial concerns became widespread support when the benefits kicked in.”
The Campaign for New York’s Future cited its own recent poll showing that New Yorkers respond positively to the congestion pricing plan when informed of its benefits. The poll was conducted by the firm of Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates between April 24 and April 30, 2007.
Noting one example, the Campaign said that more than 70% of New Yorkers polled found it strongly or somewhat convincing when told: “The money collected through congestion pricing will raise more than half a billion dollars every year, which will be used to create more subway, bus and express bus service and make other necessary transit improvements.”
Similar findings were recorded when those polled where told about public health and environmental benefits. (Relevant poll results are below.)
The Campaign had two more observations about the Quinnipiac poll:
- the poll failed to tell those polled that bridge and tunnel tolls would be credited against the $8 charge, which would be the total overall charge daily.
- 90% of those polled by Quinnipiac did agree that New York City traffic is a “serious” problem; 59 percent of city voters said the problem was “very serious,” while 31 percent said traffic is “somewhat serious
- 30 -
POLL FINDINGS:
Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates
Congestion Pricing Messages
Once again, for the purpose of our analysis, the congestion pricing messages were ranked by degree of support, and a column for intensity was included as well.
The most convincing congestion pricing messages stressed the benefits of congestion pricing.
The top performing message emphasized that congestion pricing will raise half a billion every year for transit improvements.
Now, I am going to read you some arguments that people make for congestion pricing. Please tell me whether you find these arguments very convincing, somewhat convincing, not very convincing or not at all convincing. |
Total Sample
(Very convincing) |
Total Sample
(Very + Somewhat convincing) |
NYC |
Non- NYC |
Registered Voters |
The money collected through congestion pricing will raise more than half a billion dollars every year, which will be used to create more subway, bus and express bus service and make other necessary transit improvements. |
31% |
71% |
70% |
89% |
62% |
Congestion pricing will actually affect very few people. Outside of Manhattan, only 5 percent of New Yorkers will be affected by congestion pricing, The rest, 95% take mass transit and they will be helped faster travel times, less congestion, less thru traffic in their neighborhoods, cleaner air and lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions. |
26% |
65% |
62% |
63% |
61% |
Congestion pricing will improve the public's health by getting unnecessary vehicles off the road, sharply reducing car exhaust fumes and emissions, which is one of the main causes of asthma. Currently, New York City has one of the highest childhood asthma rates in the country. |
36% |
64% |
62% |
65% |
65% |
Car exhaust is destroying our environment and one of the biggest contributors to global warming. Congestion pricing is needed reduce the number of cars on the road which will protect our air quality, improve the environment, and help prevent global warming. |
32% |
62% |
62% |
68% |
65% |
One of the city's biggest problems comes from commuters passing thru streets in the outer boroughs to speed to work in Manhattan -- it creates air pollution, traffic and is dangerous. Congestion pricing will reduce this traffic and protect our quality of life in our local neighborhoods. |
25% |
59% |
59% |
68% |
60% |
A congestion pricing fee will only be charged once a day and will replace the tolls that are currently paid. Those that already pay a toll to get to Manhattan will just have the difference added to their bill so that the most any person will pay to get into Manhattan during rush hour is $8 dollars. |
25% |
58% |
47% |
77% |
57% |
Congestion pricing will actually affect very few people. Outside of Manhattan, only 5 percent of people who work in New York City, actually drive to work. And the majority of people affected are suburban commuters and commercial traffic likes trucks. |
24% |
57% |
58% |
59% |
53% |
Congestion pricing will play a critical roll in helping the city handle 1 million more New Yorkers by fighting congestion and traffic. It will provide the funds needed so the city can make major mass transportation improvements, create more parks, fight global warming while ensuring we can fund the police force and provide services such as sanitation and health care that are needed in the years ahead. |
21% |
57% |
46% |
74% |
66% |
Congestion pricing is needed to help ensure the economic health of the city and to keep businesses and jobs in New York. Long commutes, traffic and congested roadways wastes time, hurts business production and lengthens delivery times. |
15% |
56% |
53% |
68% |
53% |
Congestion pricing will dramatically reduce traffic and congestion in Manhattan, and in all the five boroughs as commuters have to drive through Queens. Brooklyn Staten Island and the Bronx to get to Manhattan for work. |
14% |
52% |
55% |
37% |
48% |
Congestion pricing is the only way to pay for key improvements in the city, like improved subways, bus and ferry service; more public parks; improved roads, bridges and tunnels; and they only way to guarantee that subways fair do not go up. |
14% |
48% |
46% |
60% |
45% |
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