New York Mayor To Push For Congestion Pricing Plan For Long-Term Mass Transit Projects

March 26, 2008 8:36 a.m. EST

New York City, NY (AHN) - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is pushing for his congestion pricing plan to fund long-term mass transit projects for Big Apple residents. To gain public support for his proposal, Bloomberg went around the city's boroughs campaigning for its approval.

Under the congestion pricing plan, motorist will have to pay $8 to drive into Manhattan under 60th Street from Monday to Friday, between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some city legislators support the plan, while others are against it.

The announcement on Tuesday by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of the postponement of the $30 million service improvement due to fund shortage spurred Bloomberg to revive the congestion pricing proposal.

Unless NYC's council and the New York state legislature approves Bloomberg's pet project by April 7, the city would not be entitled to a $354 million federal grant for short-term transit improvements such as a speedy bus service through Fordham Road in the Bronx. That amount, together with the $491 million expected to be generated yearly by the congestion levy, would be used as equity to borrow more for long-term mass transit systems.

Bloomberg assured city residents, "I am giving the public my word that these monies will be used for mass transit for the next 646 days I'm in office and that I will do everything I can after that as a private citizen to make sure that... the MTA lives up to its commitment."