NEW YORK, NY August 15, 2007 —The federal government's decision to award New York City $354 million for congestion pricing is not a done deal. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

REPORTER: To get money from Washington, the city first needs action from Albany. US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters says there are two ways of doing this. The state could approve some version of Mayor Bloomberg's controversial plan to charge drivers who enter Manhattan. OR state lawmakers would have to come up with an alternative that reduces traffic by the same level of 6 percent. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver suggested congestion pricing could have different meanings.

SILVER: Pricing can be lowering the price on the subways in peak hours, lowering the tolls on certain bridges in non peak hours, raising the tolls on toll bridges in peak hours.

REPORTER: Opponents claim congestion pricing will hurt middle class drivers. But Mayor Bloomberg says commuters would benefit from the improvements in mass transit. The federal government is offering almost 200 million dollars for new buses and ferries. There's also 113 million for creating new high technology bus lanes in each borough. Bloomberg says these investments, combined with fees to enter Manhattan, would make the biggest difference.

BLOOMBERG: We're not married to any one plan, we're married to reduce congestion so our economy isn't hurt and so our air is better.

REPORTER: A state task force will be appointed soon to study Bloomberg's plan along with any alternatives. For WNYC I'm Beth Fertig.