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Jul 11, 2007 7:58 pm US/Eastern
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Congestion Pricing Dealt Crippling Blow
Assembly Speaker Silver Says No Way Plan Will Pass As Is
by Marcia Kramer
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver stuck a dagger into Mayor Michael Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan on Wednesday.
But CBS 2 HD has learned that Albany lawmakers remain hopeful they can come up with their own way to limit Manhattan traffic.
"I don't expect the Assembly to approve the mayor's plan," Silver said.
Silver was blunt. Bloomberg is not going to get the congestion pricing plan he's proposed -- at least not yet -- and maybe never.
"The mayor has sent us a bill that is not passable even by those who like congestion pricing," Assemblyman Richard Brodsky said.
But all is not lost for the mayor. Sources tell CBS 2 HD that ongoing negotiations in Albany now center on giving Bloomberg a legislative commission to study congestion in New York City and how to deal with it.
The commission will include members of the Senate, the Assembly and the governor's office and could take up to two years to study ways to cut traffic in the city.
"At this point it should not be my way or the highway," Silver said.
The panel, sources say, will study many ways to ease congestion and asthma rates. It may end up recommending fees, it may not
One idea some lawmakers think should be fully examined is something you might call "first number keeps you out."
If your license plate begins with a "1" you would be barred from the central business district on the first, 11th, 21st and 31st of the month
If "2" is the first number you are barred on the 2nd 12th and 22nd ... and so on
"There is something that could be adopted that authorizes the process of putting together all of the people who can put together a comprehensive plan that deals with congestion and health in the city," Silver said.
As for the mayor, he hasn't thrown in the towel just yet. He plans to go to Albany on Monday to negotiate a deal, and says he remains open to the idea of a commission to study the implementation of congestion pricing.
The only problem is, so far only the State Senate has said it will be there. Silver said that right now he has no plans to attend.
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