Reduce the number of cars in the city, transpo chair says

The chairman of the City Council’s Transportation Committee wants to put the brakes on air pollution and traffic.

Last week, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, whose Upper Manhattan district includes part of Marble Hill, announced a transportation agenda including reducing the number of cars in the city by 400,000 by 2030 —  a major drop from the  1.4 million vehicles currently slogging around the city.

“With 400,000 people and families changing their routines, we not only ease congestion and lower harmful emissions, but we can also take advantage of public space now used for parking to enhance features for cycling and walking,” Mr. Rodriguez said in an Oct. 5 speech at New York University.

To achieve the goal, the councilman proposed faster bus service, a ferry system linking all five boroughs and an expansion of Citi Bikes. He said the city could pay for the measures by levying tolls for crossing East River bridges and driving south of 60th Street.

Mr. Rodriguez, who did not answer an interview request for this article, also proposed a car-free day next Earth Day, on Friday, April 22.

Mr. Rodriguez decried the lack of transportation options in parts of the city, calling them “transit deserts.” While he did not refer to Marble Hill or neighborhoods in the northwest Bronx by name, recent years have seen increasing complaints about bus service and heavy congestion in the area.

Community Board 8’s Traffic and Transportation Committee Chairman Michael Heller embraced the councilman’s proposal.

“It seems to be a very well-thought out compilation of proposals that have circulated for a number of years in the transit community,” he said.

Mr. Heller pointed out that the nation has seen a trend in decreasing car ownership. Activists supporting the shift believe fewer cars can improve quality of life.