EXCERPT FROM STORY AT globeSt

Apparently, the biggest point of contention in the Ravitch Plan has been a proposal to charge automobiles crossing the East and Harlem rivers to come into Manhattan. That proposal has met stiff opposition from a group of state Senators, primarily Karl Krueger of Brooklyn's district 27, Pedro Espada from the Bronx's district 33 and Rueben Diaz of the Bronx's district 32.

Even a plan that included lower bridge toll fees, part of a compromised version of the Ravitch Plan proposed by Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver was not acceptable to toll opponents. As New York Building Congress president Richard Anderson told GlobeSt.com in March, "it seems clear, the state senate is being driven by avoidance of Harlem River and East River tolls."

Interestingly, the number of residents who drive to work in the districts represented by opponents to the Ravitch Plan are tally almost 2-to-1 public transit users. In fact, according to RPA data, of the 100,529 residents who commute to work in Krueger's district, 44,534 drive to work while 55,995 take public transit.

Similarly, of the 82,015 commuters in Diaz's district, 22,936 drive daily while 50,906 take the subway and/or bus. In Espada's district, 77,284 commute daily. Of those, 54,348 take public transit while only 22,936 drive a car. Drivers did slightly outnumber transit takers among Brooklyn district 26 and Bronx district 32 residents who earn more than $100,000 per year.

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