Unblocking congestion

Friday, July 27th 2007, 4:00 AM

Editorial

Great news for New York: State lawmakers have given a green light to moving Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing plan toward reality. We are a step closer to fewer cars, cleaner air and steady revenue for long-term mass transit improvements worth billions of dollars, plus a possible $500 million from Washington, which could fund expanded bus service in outlying parts of the city.
The overwhelming positive votes, 112 to 16 in the Assembly (where opposition was stiffest) and 39 to 19 in the Senate, should show the federal Department of Transportation that New York is serious about fighting gridlock.
The legislation establishes a commission that must find a way to reduce Manhattan traffic by 6.3% - but, by our reckoning, there's no way to do that except through congestion pricing and charging daytime drivers a fee for entering the borough weekdays.
Credit for this milestone goes to Bloomberg and the Albany leaders, who stopped their infighting long enough to do what's right for the city and the state, despite the skepticism many of them still harbor.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/07/27/2007-07-27_unblocking_congestion.html

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