Governor Paterson Says YES! to Congestion Pricing

NEW YORK (1010 WINS)  -- Gov. David Paterson provided critical support Friday for Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to reduce traffic by charging motorists fees in part of Manhattan.

Paterson said he supports the recommendations of the New York City Traffic Mitigation Commission. That plan, if accepted by city and state lawmakers, could draw $4.5 billion in mass transit improvements to help reduce traffic in the busiest parts of Manhattan, a measure initiated by Bloomberg.

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Paterson backed a congestion pricing zone that would charge fees to use streets south of -- and including -- 60th Street between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday except on certain holidays.

Bloomberg has just a few weeks to persuade the City Council and state Legislature to approve the plan, which would charge motorists $8 to enter Manhattan's most congested area.

``Today, Governor Paterson has demonstrated true leadership by submitting a congestion pricing bill to the Legislature that will meet all of the objectives we've set,'' Bloomberg said of the plan to reduce traffic and air pollution and improve public safety.

He said final approval by state lawmakers would give the city access to $354 million in federal money to implement the plan.

``Together, I'm certain we can pass a bill that will improve the lives of New Yorkers,'' Bloomberg said.

Paterson said the plan works for New York City residents as well as commuters from the suburbs by providing revenue for mass transit improvements while reducing traffic and the air pollution that contributes to global warming.

``We expect that revenue from the Congestion Pricing plan will support more than $4.5 billion in needed capital improvements for mass transit and meaningfully reduce traffic into the Central Business District of Manhattan,'' Paterson, a Democrat from Harlem, said in a prepared statement.

He said he will introduce a bill so the state Senate and Assembly and the City Council can examine details of the proposal.

Former Queens Councilman Walter McCaffrey, who is a spokesperson for "Keep NYC Congestion Free," says today's announcement by Paterson really doesn't change anything.

McCaffrey says Paterson is simply carrying on the policy of his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, and that doesn't make the congestion pricing plan any more feasible for New York.

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