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NEW YORK, NY July 19, 2007 —Despite the breakdown earlier this week, talks continue in Albany over a way to salvage Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

Governor Spitzer cancelled a trip to Buffalo today to continue negotiating. And aides to a few Assembly Members say they were told to stand by for a possible session on Thursday or Friday. But it's still too early to say if there's been a breakthrough. Several lawmakers said the mayor never satisfied their concerns that an extra fee on drivers entering Manhattan would cause additional traffic in the outer boroughs. That's one reason why the Assembly was only willing to appoint a commission to study the matter.

Bloomberg and the Senate Leader said that wasn't enough of a commitment. Aides to the parties say they still hope they can come up with an agreement, enabling New York to stay in the running for a 500 million dollar federal grant to fight congestion - the mayor said the deadline was Monday. For WNYC I'm Beth Fertig.