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Congestion Pricing Comes Off Life Support

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Jul 13, 2007 7:20 pm US/Eastern

Congestion Pricing Comes Off Life Support

Compromise Between Mayor, Albany In The Works

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by Marcia Kramer
NEW YORK (CBS) ― Congestion pricing might have been in the breakdown lane on Thursday, but it limped back on to the highway Friday. Albany lawmakers are trying to forge a compromise that will enable them to win $500 million in federal transportation aid.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in Sun Valley, Idaho and running out of time to get a green light on congestion pricing, so he was left trying to cajole Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to get back to Albany to meet a Monday deadline for winning federal funds.

"It's not like Albany's that far away," Bloomberg said on the radio Friday. "You can drive there any time you feel like. It's only a two-hour drive."

Sources say Silver is still planning to meet with his members in Manhattan -- not Albany -- but CBS 2 HD has learned negotiators are making some headway.

"I think there is still some time to work through these issues," Gov. Eliot Spitzer said.

Late Friday, the senate offered a new congestion pricing bill that would:

* Cap the fee at $8 for cars

* Establish a 12-member commission -- three representatives each from the senate, assembly, governor and mayor -- to propose an implementation plan

* Require the legislature to approve the plan by Dec. 31.

The bill is supported by the mayor, but it is unclear whether it passes muster with the Democrats -- Silver and Spitzer --but Bloomberg remained hopeful something could be worked out.

"It's a long way between now and Monday," Bloomberg said.

Sources say the city is willing to consider changing the congestion pricing zone from 86th Street to 78th or 60th Streets to cross the finish line.

And there's a warning to Bloomberg's detractors. Los Angeles just lost out on millions in aid because they were only willing to study congestion pricing, not enact it.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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