Bloomberg promises that the Congestion Pricing $ will be used on Mass Transit for "the next 646 days I am in office."

CONGESTION Money to be used for Mass Transit for the next two years. Afterwards, who knows?

In other words, after the end of his term, all bets are off. This is exactly why term limits are bad. Since His Honor will not face the polls again, who cares what New Yorkers think?

March 31, 2008 -- New Yorkers are wary of congestion pricing - and they found even more reason to be last week.

No sooner did a poll show New Yorkers guardedly supporting Mayor Bloomberg's plan to charge $8 for passenger cars driving below 60th Street in Manhattan - if it could be guaranteed that the funds would be targeted toward capital improvements in the city's mass transit system - than the MTA abruptly announced a halt in solemnly promised plans for such improvements.

New Yorkers were told last year that the fare hike enacted less than a month ago was necessary to pay for millions in capital fixes.

Instead, MTA Executive Director Lee Sander put a hold on the improvements, noting that a major revenue source for the MTA - real estate transfer taxes - were falling sharply.

Perhaps that is prudent, but the MTA's action underscores the public's biggest worry: Congestion pricing could be good for the city - but can the politicians be trusted to do the right thing once they get their hands on new money?

At a Tuesday press conference with Sander, Bloomberg recognized what the MTA's decision could mean for public support for congestion pricing.

"I think the public has every right to be skepical," he said. "I can just tell you that I am giving the public my word that these monies will be used for mass transit for the next 646 days I am in office and that I will do everything I can after that as a private citizen to make sure that . . . the MTA lives up to its commitment."

It's good to hear the mayor - a trustworthy man - say that. But he ultimately is only one man.

As the Quinnipiac poll indicated, the public is, to use the mayor's word, skeptical: New Yorkers recognize a bait-and-switch scam when they see it - and Sanders' backtracking on fare-increase revenues qualifies.

If the MTA can't be trusted on that, why should the public believe that congestion-prising cash go where it belongs?

Albany will be voting on congestion pricing soon.

Some iron-clad guarantees are necessary - now.