The bulk of the borough’s political leadership quickly got behind Mayor Bloomberg’s environmental master plan known as PlaNYC, including the controversial congestion pricing proposal.

We know the mayor’s in a hurry to get congestion pricing through the state legislature because of a deadline to be eligible for federal funds, but why are Bronx elected officials running all the stop signs to get behind the rest of PlaNYC?

Certainly there are many innovative and exciting ideas in the plan, and we’re glad the mayor is thinking ahead.

But Bronx politicians need to think ahead, too, and engage in some of the political wheeling and dealing we pay them for.

Their first question should be, "Is there enough in the plan that will help the Bronx, particularly around transportation?"

Well, no.

There is one bus rapid transit line planned for Pelham Parkway and Fordham Road. The only other thing on the map for the Bronx is related to getting Long Island commuters to Manhattan’s east side.

In fact, too much of the plan seems to be about commuters to Manhattan, and not enough of them from the Bronx.

Very little of it is about improving life for the people who live right here.

Were our elected officials even aware of the Bronx Arterial Needs Major Investment Study (MIS) completed in 2004 by the state Department of Transportation, which studied the borough’s most serious transportation needs?

It includes several terrific Bronx transportation proposals. One is improving traffic and quality of life along the Cross Bronx Expressway. It calls for high quality bus rapid transit on connector roads, a multi-use path along those roads for pedestrians and bicyclists, and a landscaped buffer between the road and the path.

Now, that would be some great first aid for the deep, lingering wound Robert Moses left across the belly of the borough.

Closer to home, there’s an excellent proposal for fixing the perennially bottled up interchange at West Fordham Road and the Major Deegan Expressway.

These would have been perfect additions to PlaNYC and perfect bargaining chips for Bronx politicians to demand in exchange for their support of congestion pricing.

Doing it in that order doesn’t just make political sense. It makes policy sense.

Mass transit improvements like the bus lanes on the Cross Bronx should be made before congestion pricing is implemented, so that people have sufficient incentives to leave their cars at home.  

As for congestion pricing itself, the proposal as it currently stands needs work. And so that the best ideas are considered, it should be subjected to rigorous public review.

Assemblyman Jeffery Dinowitz told us he thinks larger vehicles like Hummers and SUVs should be subjected to higher fees than compact cars. Likewise, he said, hybrid vehicles should get a break on the fee. Makes sense to us.

Also, subtracting bridge tolls from the congestion pricing fee of $8 is unfair to Bronxites, most of whom don’t pay a toll on their way to Manhattan. Having poorer residents pay $8 to travel within their own city, while more affluent New Jersey commuters get a $6  discount is just plain unfair.

The bottom line? Let’s slow down, consider existing policy proposals for Bronx improvements like those in the 2004 MIS, and give the public a chance to participate.

We have speed limits on our highways for a reason. Driving slower makes for better decision making and deters disastrous accidents. The same is true for policy proposals.