News

NEW YORK, NY June 08, 2007 —Mayor Bloomberg's plan to charge drivers who enter Manhattan faces its first big test. A State Assembly committee is meeting in the city. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

The hearing on congestion pricing comes just as Bloomberg's proposal is picking up speed. Yesterday, Governor Elliot Spitzer gave his strongest encouragement to date when he met with Bloomberg and the US Transportation Secretary about it. The city is a finalist for a grant worth hundreds of millions of dollars which could be used to improve mass transit before the plan would take effect. The money could also go toward setting up the cameras and systems to charge drivers entering Manhattan.

But the deadline is August - and New York can't stay in the running unless Albany approves the plan. Governor Spitzer says he's optimistic that legislative leaders will get on board. Republican Senate Leader Joseph Bruno introduced a bill yesterday, calling the mayor's objectives worthwhile and pledging to review the costs and benefits to the public and the environment. But many suburban lawmakers are wary about higher fees for commuters. For WNYC I'm Beth Fertig.