NYLCV Hails US DOT Funding of Congestion Pricing Plan

$354.5 Million Targeted For Mass-Transit Improvements

The New York League of Conservation Voters, the political voice for New York's environmental community, welcomed today's announcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation that it has awarded $354.4 million to implement Mayor Michael Bloomberg's congestion pricing program.

"This is great news for anyone who breathes in New York City and the metro area," said Marcia Bystryn, executive director of the New York League of Conservation Voters. "Today's vote of confidence from the federal government is proof-positive that PlaNYC is the best way to clean our air, reduce traffic and improve mass transit. The next step is for all sides to come together and craft the best implementation plan possible."

Today's approval sets in motion a process that will allow extensive public and legislative input on congestion pricing. A 17-member commission will put forward a final implementation plan, which may differ from Mayor Bloomberg's original plan, but it must meet the same traffic-reduction goals and use congestion pricing as the principal mechanism to achieve them.

Click here to read a two-page brief on the details of the agreement.