Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Feds Will Support NYC's Congestion Pricing Plan, Possibly With $350 Million
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 14, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 14, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Last month, much-to-do between Mayor Bloomberg and the state powers-that-be resulted in a kind of agreement that congestion pricing in NYC should be considered and studied (after months of Mayor Bloomberg campaigning for it). And today, the U.S. Department of Transportation is expected to announce its support of NYC's plan.
The USDOT could give NYC as much as $350 million (though not the half billion number the Mayor and US DOT Secretary Mary Peters had previously suggested). Still, as long as there's a minimum of $200 million, the funding will satisfy the state Legislature's requirements for congestion pricing.
The money does come with strings: The USDOT wants some sort of fee to be charged to drivers during peak hours, which is something quite a few politicians in the outer boroughs and Westchester hate. There are still questions about how much of the money will go to mass transit or equipment to set up congestion pricing E-ZPass-type systems, some of which may be answered during today's press conference.
The Sun reminds us that the MTA has made plans assuming that the city will get over $500 million in federal funding - guess the MTA will have to re-work their numbers. And the city and state will have to create its congestion pricing commission.
Finally, this brilliant image is from Loho10002. We'd pay to see this movie.
Update: The US DOT will give NYC $354 million; DOT secretary Mary Peters said that the Legislature must agree to a plan within 90 days of convening, which is about March 2008 according to the Times. She said, "If the city does not have the legal authority to move forward at that time, it will not receive the money." Her other remarks, via the Times:
Ms. Peters said that so long as the commission approves a traffic plan that meets the same “performance objectives” as the mayor’s original plan, the city would receive the balance of the money. At a news conference this morning, Ms. Peters said that the federal government supported Mayor Bloomberg’s plan because it was “as brass and bold as New York City itself.”
“The average New York commuter now spends 49 hours stuck in traffic every year, up from 18 hours in 1982,” she said. “While some may be content to accept growing gridlock as a way of life, Mayor Bloomberg is not going to let traffic rob the Big Apple.
“New Yorkers,” she added, “must understand that we must stop relying on yesterday’s ideas to fight today’s traffic jams.”
Tagged
apple
big apple
bloomberg
city
congestion
department of transportation
dot
government
mass transit
mayor
mayor bloomberg
money
MTA
new york
new york city
new yorkers
News: NYC
nyc
the city
The US
traffic
transportation
us
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .