N.Y. Lawmakers Likely to Decide on City’s Congestion Plan Monday

The New York State Assembly is not likely to make a decision on a congestion-fee plan for cars and trucks in New York City until a key deadline Monday, the New York Post reported Friday.

Speaker Sheldon Silver (D) said there will be no decision on whether to vote on the proposal until Monday, which is the drop-dead date for the plan, backed by city Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to charge automobiles $8 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street.

Trucks would be charged $21, while cleaner trucks would receive a break, with a fee of $7, Bloomberg News reported earlier this week.

At a closed-door meeting Thursday, only 17 of 73 Assembly Democrats supported the plan, the Post reported.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) said this week he may sue New York City over the program, if commuters from his state are subject to the fees.

The New York City Council narrowly approved the plan Monday, but the Assembly has a deadline of next Monday to approve the plan or the city will risk losing about $350 million in federal funds to implement it.

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