Mar 30, 2008 4:12 pm US/Eastern
Deadline Draws Near For Congestion Pricing Plan
Mayor Bloomberg Confident Of City Council, Albany Support
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Half of New York state's voters oppose congestion pricing, but some say they'd change their minds if they were convinced the traffic fee would be used to improve mass transit, according to a poll released Monday.
CBS
Congestion pricing is supposed to be about ending traffic gridlock in midtown Manhattan, but with two huge deadlines looming Monday, it may be more about day-to-day politics and political gridlock.
Several politicians from the outer boroughs and suburbs took the position of many drivers who spoke out at public hearings against the plan.
Mayor Bloomberg's controversial plan is to charge drivers everytime they enter Manhattan south of 60th street. Cars would be charged $8 and trucks $21 on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
State lawmakers in Albany must approve the plan by Monday in order for the city to get $354 million in federal funds.
A Bloomberg aide said the mayor expects the traffic plan to carry the senate, mostly with votes from upstate Republicans and city Democrats whom may have been influenced by Bloomberg's $500,000 donation to the senate GOP last month.
Another help is Governor Paterson's endorsement. However, the Assembly, led by Sheldon Silver, will still be an uphill battle,
and before it even gets up to Albany, the City Council must vote on it first thing Monday morning.
The City Council president backs the plan. "We have to sustain the moment to end congestion that is literally choking the economy of our city and everyday choking the breath of children in our city," Councilwoman Christine Quinn said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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