ALBANY -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer and top aides representing legislative leaders and Mayor Michael Bloomberg continued working behind closed doors Wednesday to salvage an agreement on the mayor's plan to reduce traffic and pollution in Manhattan.
But 72 hours of often tense negotiations still hadn't yielded an agreement by Wednesday afternoon, said Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson.
Spitzer, Senate and Assembly leaders and Bloomberg's staff were working on an agreement that would allow the city to qualify for as much as $500 million in federal funds to improve mass transit. Spitzer canceled a trip to Buffalo on Wednesday to stay involved in the talks at his Capitol office.
Among the issues that have blocked an agreement are tolls for suburban and outer-borough city commuters, the fear some neighborhoods outside the Manhattan “congestion pricing” zone would become parking lots, and other details of Bloomberg's extensive plan.
The representatives of city and state government agree something needs to be done to reduce gridlock in Manhattan and protect the city's future. Bloomberg said inaction will result in rush hour conditions round the clock and promises to find ways to reduce traffic even if the city isn't in the federal program.
“In my district,” said Democratic Sen. Liz Krueger of Manhattan, “you can't walk across the street because the blocks are blocked by traffic. You can't walk across town. I watch fire engines and ambulances not being able to move through traffic.”
Negotiations continued after midnight Monday, which Bloomberg said was the federal deadline to qualify for the pilot program funding. Under law, the city needs the state Legislature's approval to raise fees or tolls. Bloomberg's plan would charge drivers to enter certain parts of Manhattan during business hours.
The Bloomberg administration said the charge - $8 for cars and $21 for trucks - would force more people onto mass transit, reducing traffic and improving air quality. But the concept wasn't popular outside Manhattan, where many commuters say they have few mass transit options and must drive.
Spitzer, Senate and Assembly leaders and Bloomberg's staff were working on an agreement that would allow the city to qualify for as much as $500 million in federal funds to improve mass transit. Spitzer canceled a trip to Buffalo on Wednesday to stay involved in the talks at his Capitol office.
Among the issues that have blocked an agreement are tolls for suburban and outer-borough city commuters, the fear some neighborhoods outside the Manhattan “congestion pricing” zone would become parking lots, and other details of Bloomberg's extensive plan.
The representatives of city and state government agree something needs to be done to reduce gridlock in Manhattan and protect the city's future. Bloomberg said inaction will result in rush hour conditions round the clock and promises to find ways to reduce traffic even if the city isn't in the federal program.
“In my district,” said Democratic Sen. Liz Krueger of Manhattan, “you can't walk across the street because the blocks are blocked by traffic. You can't walk across town. I watch fire engines and ambulances not being able to move through traffic.”
Negotiations continued after midnight Monday, which Bloomberg said was the federal deadline to qualify for the pilot program funding. Under law, the city needs the state Legislature's approval to raise fees or tolls. Bloomberg's plan would charge drivers to enter certain parts of Manhattan during business hours.
The Bloomberg administration said the charge - $8 for cars and $21 for trucks - would force more people onto mass transit, reducing traffic and improving air quality. But the concept wasn't popular outside Manhattan, where many commuters say they have few mass transit options and must drive.
The Citizens' Say
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