Submitted by Carlyn Konheim, Dec 15, 2007 23:40

Charging the remaining untolled drivers to drive is not a tax. It is a partial payment for the costs that drivers impose on the rest of us --- and themselves. Community Consulting Sevices has quantified these costs well documented sources. The facts are:

· The average auto trip in New York City costs drivers about $9 one-way in out of pocket costs and the public an additional $14 for taxes for roads and policing not covered by motorists, congestion delay, accidents, air pollution and other indirect costs. They add up to $46 per two way trip citywide and higher in the Manhattan core.

· The average transit round trip in the MTA region costs the passenger $4.34 and the public $8.24 for a total of $12.58.

· Thus, the full cost of auto travel is about 4 times higher than transit.

· For each auto trip converted to transit, on average, the user saves $14 in direct costs and the public saves a net of $28 in indirect, a $42 benefit.

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