New York lawmakers ditch plan for congestion pricing in Manhattan
Eds: ADDS Bloomberg spokesman comment.
By MICHAEL GORMLEY
Associated Press Writer
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Lawmakers rejected a proposal on Monday to charge Manhattan motorists an extra fee to drive in the city, a plan advocates hoped would reduce traffic and curb pollution.
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Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced the decision after a survey of Democratic Assembly members in a private conference. The decision comes after days of closed-door negotiations, and means the city will forfeit $354 million in federal funding for trying to kick-start the plan.
The concept aimed to cut traffic and pollution by forcing more commuters onto mass transit. It would have charged most drivers $8 to drive below 60th Street between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Truckers would have paid $21.
The Legislature faced a Monday deadline to act on Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposal, which was already endorsed by Democratic Gov. David Paterson, the Republican-led Senate and the City Council.
"What we are witnessing today is one of the biggest cop-outs in New York’s history," said Bloomberg spokesman John Gallagher. "After insisting on the formation of a commission to make recommendations for a bill, and then for the City Council to vote to endorse that bill, the Assembly needs to stand up and be counted.
There was no immediate comment from Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno or Paterson.
The plan ran into strenuous objections from legislators from outer boroughs and New York City suburbs who said it would unfairly target commuters and their constituents.
"The conference has decided that they are not prepared to do congestion pricing," Silver said. "Many members just don’t believe in the concept. Many think this proposal is flawed. It will not be on the floor of the Assembly," he said.
Silver said part of the problem with the proposal, which Bloomberg had said could begin next year, is that it doesn’t immediately provide funding to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He said the agency that runs the city’s mass transit is already underfunded and needs to be bolstered before it takes on more commuters.
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Associated Press writer Sara Kugler in New York City contributed to this report.
