Jun 18, 2007 6:17 pm US/Eastern
Corzine Throws Wrench Into Congestion Pricing
Says N.J. Mass Transit Can't Handle Switch From Cars
by Marcia Kramer
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has done a lot of high pressure lobbying on his controversial congestion-pricing plan. But one person he apparently left out is Jon Corzine. On Monday, the New Jersey governor dropped a bombshell: His state may not be able to handle the plan from its end.
"There are a lot of question that need to be answered so I reserve judgment," Corzine said.
Bloomberg wants to reduce the number of New Jersey residents driving into New York City and clogging the streets. However, Corzine stunned everyone by saying New Jersey's mass transit system can't handle the switch from cars to mass transit.
"We don't have the capacity to handle dramatic surges in additional riders on our mass transit system, which is what congestion pricing is going to encourage," Corzine said.
This news came as Bloomberg picked up a new and powerful backer.
"I stand here today strongly in support of congestion pricing," City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said.
Make no mistake; getting Quinn to support congestion pricing is a feather in the mayor's cap.
"It is a tough choice," Quinn said.
But Quinn, who wants to succeed Bloomberg as mayor, said she wants changes to the plan to charge drivers $8 to enter Manhattan south of 86th Street.
She wants:
* Carpoolers to pay less.
* Regional transit passes so you don't pay twice if you take the train and then a bus or subway.
* Special rates for small business owners.
"We have to move forward with congestion pricing carefully," Quinn said.
Quinn isn't the only one who wants changes to the plan. Members of the state legislature, who have to approve it, have dozens of concerns. One is privacy -- the Big Brother is watching you issue. After all, there will be more than 1,000 cameras snapping pictures of where drivers are ... and when.
A source close to the negotiations told CBS 2 HD that the city might agree to destroy records once the fee is paid.
Meanwhile, the city has made its first concessions to lawmakers. It now says the legislature -- not the mayor -- will decide whether the three-year pilot program should continue.
And instead of the city determining where the money will be spent, the governor, the mayor, the assembly speaker and the Senate majority leader will each have a say.
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