New York's Congestion Pricing Plan Enters Final Stretch

Officials in New York are pleading their case for a congestion pricing plan before city councilors as the April 7 deadline for approval approaches.

1 minute read

March 25, 2008, 12:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg


"With just two weeks to go before the deadline to approve congestion pricing, Mayor Bloomberg and his allies worked Monday to win converts to the plan - while City Council critics spent the day poking holes in it."

"Council members grilled Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan about whether the proposed $8 fee for drivers entering Manhattan below 60th St. would hurt poor commuters, cost too much to administer or lead to a cutback in federal funds."

"The City Council, Assembly and state Senate must approve the plan by April 7 to qualify for $354 million in federal funds for extra bus and subway service. A new Quinnipiac University poll found two-thirds of New Yorkers support the idea, as long as the revenue is used for mass transit."

"New Jersey drivers using E-ZPass would not have to pay the fee, so Bloomberg's team is negotiating for part of a $2 billion Port Authority fund to make up some of the difference. They are also mulling a tax credit to help poor drivers pay the fee."

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 in The Daily News

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