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Heat On Albany To Pass Congestion Pricing Grows

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Jun 7, 2007 5:03 pm US/Eastern

Heat On Albany To Pass Congestion Pricing Grows

City Stands To Get $500 Million Grant From Government

by Marcia Kramer
NEW YORK (CBS) ― The plan to charge drivers to enter parts of Manhattan seems to be shifting into high gear. On Thursday, Mayor Mike Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan got a huge boost from the feds -- and with that the possibility of federal grants to help the city implement the plan.

"This plan is bold," said Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters. "Its brave. And it's long overdue."

Peters came to praise Mayor Bloomberg's controversial congestion pricing plan, but she also fell victim Thursday to the crush of cars on our streets

Peters got stuck in traffic -- like we New Yorkers do every day -- before a press conference naming New York City a semifinalist in a contest to award federal grants to fight traffic jams.

The plan will keep the city that never sleeps from becoming the city that never moves.

But here's the rub -- and the pressure -- the state legislature has to approve Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan before the grants are awarded in early August. Otherwise we lose the grant -- up to $500 million.

"That makes the need to enact congestion pricing legislation even more urgent," Bloomberg said.

Some of the federal money would pay for mass transit improvements that would be done before the congestion plan goes into effect.

Under the plan the city would charge you $8 to drive south of 86th Street between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"Traffic and gridlock mean that workers count on consistent commutes, businesses cant count on property delivery and families can count on getting their children to school on time," Peters said.

Will Albany step up to the plate? Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno introduced the congestion-pricing bill on Thursday. Now, Gov. Eliot Spitzer will have to sell it.

"This is a necessary investment for the future of New York City," Spitzer said. "This is not really a question of whether it's a question of how its a question making sure we do it properly

If the program gets the green light, it would hit the streets of New York City in up to 18 months.

Public hearings on the proposal will be held Friday. Bloomberg will be the first testify.

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

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