Manhattan Congestion Pricing Plan Stumbles, Falls

State legislators in New York did not schedule a vote on Mayor Michael Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan, missing a crucial deadline to apply for federal funding -- a move that all but erases the possibility of the plan's approval.

1 minute read

July 17, 2007, 12:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg


"The plan appeared to have died because many state legislators wouldn't support it. A number of lawmakers who represent areas outside Manhattan where commuters live said middle-class New Yorkers with no mass transit options would be unfairly burdened by the charges."

"The mayor, believed to be contemplating a presidential bid, vowed Tuesday that his administration would go ahead with its other environmental proposals. Some have gotten worldwide notice, such as his plan to phase out the traditional yellow taxi and replace all cabs with hybrids by 2012."

"A leading skeptic of the concept, state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, did not schedule a vote on the plan before Monday's deadline to apply for hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for the program."

Tuesday, July 17, 2007 in Associated Press

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