Congestion Pricing Gets Federal

The Department of Transportation has agreed to release $354 million to support Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan, says DOT Secretary Mary Peters. The money will only be allocated to New York City assuming

Bloomberg's plan, which would charge cars $8 and trucks $21 to enter Manhattan south of 86th Street on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m, has strong opposition from State Assemblyman and State Senators from the outer boroughs and near suburbs, where many upper middle class workers commute to Manhattan via car instead of subway, bus or commuter rail.

Opposition is strong in many parts of the city that does not have direct access to Manhattan via public transportation, such as Bergen Beach and Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, Glendale and Whitestone, Queens and Throggs Neck, Bronx where many commuters to Manhattan commute via car.