Hurdles in Albany Delay Traffic Tax Proposal

Mayor Bloomberg's congestion pricing proposal may not gain the state support it needs by the end of this legislative session, but it could pass later this summer, the Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver, told reporters yesterday at a press conference.

"It's possible, very possible," he said of the plan being passed by August in a special session. The city risks losing close to $500 million of federal funds to implement the program if the state does not get on board with the plan by August.

Mr. Silver, who is emerging as Mr. Bloomberg's biggest obstacle in Albany, yesterday voiced support for the road tax in concept, but raised questions about implementing the plan. The scheme could bring more pollution to the neighborhoods with the highest asthma rates, Mr. Silver said, if motorists drove their cars to Brooklyn or Queens to avoid paying Manhattan's congestion fees.

"If there was nothing else doing, it could happen in the next few weeks," Mr. Silver said of the plan. "But unfortunately or fortunately there are other things doing in the State Legislature."