Feds award city $354M for congestion plan

Officials announced New York City would receive $354.5 million in federal funds if it agrees to implement Mayor Bloomberg congestion pricing plan or a similar plan to reduce congestion by early 2008.
“We’ve worked very hard to secure these funds, and this is a major victory for the people of New York City,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “By fulfilling the terms of the agreement, we will be able to create new and better mass transit options for commuters all across the city before congestion pricing takes effect.”
Bloomberg’s plan would charge car drivers $8 and trucks $21 to enter Manhattan south of 86th Street on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in order to decrease congestion in the central business district as well as improve air quality in the area.
However, the State Legislature did not pass Bloomberg’s plan, and instead, created a commission made up of representatives from city and state legislators to study congestion pricing.
If the legislature passes a plan, which the U.S. Department of Transportation approves, by March 31, 2008, the MTA would receive $184 million for new bus facilities, with one facility located in Jamaica, and the city would receive $112.7 million to establish Bus Rapid Transit in all five boroughs.
In addition, the city would also receive $29.3 million for pedestrian and traffic signal improvements, $10.4 million in grants to implement congestion pricing, $15.8 for ferry service and $2 million to conduct research.
“This federal funding will help make New York a cleaner, greener and healthier city for our children,” said Congressmember Joseph Crowley, who represents portions of Queens and the Bronx. “These critical resources will finance major mass transit enhancements that will vastly improve the day-to-day lives of Queens and Bronx families.”
Meanwhile, City Councilmember John Liu, who chairs the Council’s Transportation Committee, continued to urge that a substantial portion of the funds be used to increase Express Bus Service into Manhattan - particularly during rush hour.
Although many groups and political leaders expressed their excitement over the federal funds, some organizations continue to speak out against the congestion pricing idea.
Former City Councilmember Walter McCaffrey, who is leading the group Keep NYC Congestion Tax Free, called on legislators to derail the plan if it continued to discriminate against the outer boroughs.
“At all times, the public’s best interest should be in the driver’s seat, and we will keep our hazard lights on to continue warning all New Yorkers to the problems ahead,” McCaffrey said in a statement.