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Even with Governor David Paterson throwing his support behind congestion pricing, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan is failing to gain support needed for approval by the City Council or State Legislature, and at least one Assemblyman has said the future looks bleak for the bold proposal.
The City Council remains divided with Council Speaker Quinn supporting the initiative and many Councilmembers in strong opposition.

On Monday the proposal was debated in a sharply divided City Council, but no progress was made towards convincing members to support the controversial proposal.

The plan needs approval from the City Council and State Legislature to go into effect. Without support from both bodies the City will forfeit $354 million in federal funding for transit improvements.

Last week, Governor Paterson came out in support of the plan, but has not picked up many allies since introducing a program bill that vibes with recommendations of the Traffic Mitigation Commission’s Jan. 31 report.

“Congestion pricing addresses two urgent concerns of the residents of New York City and its suburbs: The need to reduce congestion on our streets and roads, and thereby reduce pollution, and the need to raise significant revenue for mass transit improvement,” Paterson said.”

The mayor applauded Paterson’s work, and remains adamant that approval of the plan is required because the city needs the federal monies, and further, that the proposal is wise policy.

“The bill is a giant step forward, and its timely passage will ensure that New York gets $354 million in federal money that we’ve been promised,” the mayor said in a statement. “Those funds will allow us to make immediate transit improvements. We will work with the Governor and our partners in the State Legislature and the City Council to address outstanding issues.”

However, with the deadline pushed ahead a week, and the governor on board, State Legislators remain cool to the idea of charging drivers $8 to enter Manhattan below 60th street during the busiest times of the day.

Most elected officials in Albany and New York have said they
support the idea of congestion pricing, but are hesitant to support the proposal in its current form.

According to State Assemblyman Jose Peralta, the mayors plan will be not be approved if it ever comes up for vote in Albany. The bill proposed by Governor Paterson is currently in conference, and may never make its way to the floor for debate, or a full vote.

The deadline for State Legislators to discuss the bill is April 6 is in conference. Peralta feels the tone of debate in Albany has been “completely negative.”

“As of now without the support of the conference it’s dead on arrival, but stranger things have happened.”

Assemblyman Peralta (D-Jackson Heights), sounds a familiar
theme. He said he has always “been open to the concept,” but remains “against charging drivers” to enter Manhattan.

“There are other ways of going about doing it. Like changing hours trucks can enter the city. Seems to me $8 is another way to keep people out of Manhattan,” he said.

Much of Peralta’s opposition stems from general mistrust of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s promise that federal money will be directed at improving mass transit if congestion pricing is approved-a theme that was echoed by Councilman John Liu in published reports.

“People understand the need for this, but the big problem here is that they don’t trust the MTA or even city government to use the revenues in the way that’s been promised,” said City Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing), who backs congestion pricing and is chairman of the transportation committee

Peralta espouses this sentiment and remains wary of the MTA.
“The MTA is an organization that never keeps its promises,” he said. I just don’t trust the MTA. I think that’s the biggest issue from elected officials. History has proven they have not been able to manage money well. The bottom line is there is a lack of trust in the MTA.”