Brooklyn Bridge Traffic, photo by Elvis Payne via Flickr

A study released yesterday finds that traffic congestion is costing NYC and its suburbs more than $13 billion annually. The report, commissioned by the Partnership for New York City, a group of 200 business leaders, recommends that the city take a closer look at the idea of charging cars to drive through traffic-choked corridors–like, um, all of Manhattan south of 60th Street. Bloomberg says it’s unlikely he’ll adopt such a plan, but a recent poll indicates that many voters, dissatisfied with his handling of traffic problems, might actually support a congestion pricing scheme.

For Brooklyn-dwelling car commuters, such a policy would certainly cause inconvenience. But as Streetsblog explains in a great article on the issue, some advocates argue that congestion pricing would be better for the borough’s neighborhoods, which have shouldered much of the cost of current tolling schemes–like the one-way toll over the Verrazano Bridge that encourages drivers to use Brooklyn surface roads. What do you think about congestion pricing–any drivers out there? Or are you a pedestrian or biker in a gridlocked neighborhood?

Report Recommends City Study Option of Congestion Pricing [NY Sun]
Mayor Says Fee on Peak Traffic Is Not Likely [NY Times]
Congestion pricing plan gains speed in toll poll [NY Daily News]
Congestion Charging in New York City: The Political Bloodbath