Some Sort of Congestion Pricing Deal is Done

According to NY1, Governor Spitzer just announced “that the state has given the city the green light to proceed with the
plan, but he stressed that no agreement has been reached on tolls.” NY1 reports, “The agreement creates a commission of representatives from the mayor’s
office and the governor’s office, City Council members, and State
Senate and Assembly members to review plans for implementation.”

We don’t have an Albany or City Hall bureau (yet), so your best sources for up-to-the-minute coverage are:

• The Daily Politics
• City Room
• The Politicker

Here is a press release from City Hall:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 18, 2007

No. 247

www.nyc.gov

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ON CITY BEING AUTHORIZED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONGESTION PRICING:

“This agreement to move forward with congestion pricing marks a critical milestone in our efforts to make PlaNYC a reality, and to provide a better quality of life for us and for future generations of New Yorkers. By moving forward in our effort to clean our air and fight congestion, we will help our economy, improve public health and make critical improvements to our public transportation system.

“This agreement makes clear that delay was unacceptable and the need to protect our environment and fight congestion simply could not wait. We will begin immediately to prepare for the installation of needed equipment to make our traffic plan a reality.

“This agreement also creates a commission made up of representatives of our Administration, our partners in the City Council, Senate, and Assembly and from the Governor’s office to review our plans for implementation. I am certain that through our work with the commission, our traffic plan will be implemented expeditiously.

“This agreement is a victory for the broad coalition of environmental and environmental justice groups, transit and public health advocates, organized labor and civic leaders who worked tirelessly for years to make real and important progress for our environment and our mass transit system. I also want to congratulate the leaders of both houses of the Legislature and the Governor for their support for this key element of PlaNYC and their commitment to moving it forward. We will continue to work together to access the federal funds that are available. Certainly there will be discussion of the details of various components of our plan, but together we have made a commitment to a greener, healthier and more livable New York.”