Deal Reached on N.Y.C. Traffic Fees
New York state leaders reached agreement Thursday with New York City on a plan to put “congestion fees” on cars and trucks operating in the center of Manhattan, the Associated Press reported.
A deal on implementing the plan — which would charge $21 for trucks and $8 cars that enter a zone below 86th Street in Manhattan — was reached with legislative leaders and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, AP said.
“This agreement makes clear . . . the need to protect our environment and fight congestion simply could not wait,” Bloomberg said in a statement, the New York Times’ Web site reported. “We will begin immediately to prepare for the installation of needed equipment to make our traffic plan a reality.”
A spokesman for Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) confirmed the deal, which was being written into draft legislation and a letter of agreement, AP reported.
The agreement will allow the city to qualify as a federal pilot program and receive as much as $500 million in federal funds to improve mass transit, AP said.
