Keep Hope Alive?

Over at the Daily Politics, Liz Benjamin reports that state leaders are negotiating behind closed doors and congestion pricing is still on the table. City Room is also reporting that Governor Paterson called an emergency meeting and the plan was still under discussion as of 5:45 pm.

Streetsblog readers will recall that congestion pricing looked to be dead and gone last July 17 and then a couple of days later, after the federal deadline had been missed, the mayor’s political people pulled off the deal that created the Congestion Mitigation Commission process. A dig through Streetsblog’s July 2007 archives tells the story.

So, who knows? The state Legislature still has to produce a budget. They still need to address a multi-billion dollar transit deficit. They still want pay raises.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Paterson Backs Pricing, Introduces Bill in Albany

|
David Paterson is going to do right by his old State Senate district after all. New York’s new governor settled any doubts about his position on congestion pricing this afternoon, introducing a bill that follows the recommendations of the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission. The Daily Politics has the scoop: "Congestion pricing addresses two urgent concerns […]

Skelos Ascension Clouds Prospect of Pricing Revival

|
Yesterday, retiring New York State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno handed the reins to Deputy Leader Dean Skelos, Republican from Nassau County. Though some see this unforeseen development as an opportunity to move on much-needed reforms in Albany, it’s not great news for advocates of congestion pricing. If Governor Paterson looks to revive pricing via […]

Congestion Pricing Bill: First Impressions

|
Following word that a congestion pricing bill has surfaced in Albany, details are emerging about the actual legislation. Today’s New York Times story on Governor Paterson’s attitude toward pricing included specifics on how penalties would work and confirmed the existence of a "livable streets lock box" funded by parking fees: The measure would charge drivers […]

Assembly Member Kellner Comes Around on Pricing

|
Having portrayed himself as a lukewarm supporter of congestion pricing, Upper East Side Assemblyman Micah Kellner let loose with some surprisingly pointed remarks last week, when, to paraphrase, he told the New York Times he didn’t think Governor David Paterson would try to shove the congestion pricing bill down the throats of Assembly members. Now […]

Congestion Pricing Commission’s First Meeting

|
From Crain’s Insider: The Congestion Pricing Commission will meet for the first time next week, bringing together the 17 people who must choose between Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s traffic mitigation plan and some other program. To qualify for a $354.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, a plan must involve a pricing component and […]

Will Richard Ravitch Resurrect Congestion Pricing?

|
Marc Shaw, former chair of the Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission, caused something of a stir in the local press on Friday, when he predicted that congestion pricing would "rise again" as a proposal to toll East River bridges and a cordon across 60th street. Speaking at a panel discussion at the RPA’s Regional Assembly, Shaw […]