Even though New York City has 8 million daily transit riders and 67% of voters support congestion pricing, this critical reform was quashed in a closed conference room in Albany. That our legislators allowed $354 million in federal transit aid to turn to dust, and refused an open vote on pricing is an enormous setback in the fight to curb the enormous costs of traffic congestion.

"Until we have adequate state leadership, it is up to the Mayor and the City Council to do what is within their power to reduce traffic congestion and boost mass transit," says Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives. Transportation Alternatives calls on Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council to move aggressively to enact permanent traffic reduction measures that are within their power, including the following:

Parking Reform: 60% of Manhattan-bound drivers do not pay to park. There is enormous potential to curb driving and traffic by simply charging more for parking. This increased parking revenue can be used to reapportion streets to favor those who use it most efficiently: bus riders, car-poolers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

Complete Streets: The City should expand existing efforts to carve wider sidewalks, protected bus lanes and bike lanes from existing streets. By simply granting wider, more protected rights-of-way, NYC can boost transit, biking and walking by more than 20%.

Pedestrian Priority Zones: All trips begin and end with walking, and 22% of driving trips are 1 mile or less. By giving pedestrians safer passage, many driving trips can be switched to walking.

Bike Share and Bike Parking: Paris’ Velib bicycle share generates 200,000 new bicycle trips per day, freeing up much needed capacity on roads and transit. New York City’s bike share program can be funded with advertising contracts, and should be accompanied by major bicycle network safety enhancements. To further boost bicycling, the City Council should pass pending legislation that would require commercial buildings to make allowances for bicyclists to park.

"If you have a child with asthma or if you are late to work because your bus is stuck in traffic, today's inaction was a cruel endorsement of the status quo," says White. "But we cannot let this setback jeopardize New York City's move towards greener streets. Our leaders have a responsibility to take on these challenges head-on."

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