By Gunnar Heinrich

Well, Mayor Michael Bloomberg may yet get his way.

After a political defeat at the hands of the New York state legislature last July, Mr. Bloomberg's plans to implement a London-style congestion zone in the middle of Manhattan seemed like a lost cause.

That is until Uncle Sam stepped in with $354 million earmarked for the project.

"The United States Department of Transportation announced today that it has allocated $354 million to help Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg finance his plan to reduce traffic in Manhattan by charging tolls to drivers entering the busiest parts of the borough. The announcement, by Mary E. Peters, the secretary of transportation, is a major lift for the mayor, and is likely to increase pressure on legislative leaders who have balked at the plan to let the city move forward," The New York Times reported.

Still it's $200 million less than what Mr. Bloomberg asked for and the funds will not be handed over unless Albany agrees with the plan.

Let's hope they stand firm.

[Source: NYT]

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