New York City

Throgs Neck Bridge between Bronx and Queens NY City was closed much of today by a fire that raged in construction materials and temporary works that are part of a deck replacement project. The fire broke out about 5am, an hour after a night construction shift ended.

Tolls on the bridges and tunnels in New York City operated by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority go up 10% July 12

Verrazano bridge tolls levied one-way only will be for cars $9.14 with an E-ZPass transponder, $5.48 for Staten Island residents with E-ZPass and for them with a Resident token $7.35, and $11 cash.

Democrat legislators in a closed party meeting in the State Capitol in Albany decided today not to allow New York City congestion pricing to be put to a vote in the State Assembly. Democrat leader and assembly speaker Sheldon Silver claimed the opposition was "overwhelming" among Democrats. This he said, without explanation, was sufficient reason not to schedule a vote.

The new governor of New York David Paterson moved Friday (2008-03-21) to support New York City congestion pricing - one of the largest toll system projects going in the US. Paterson issued a statement of support and submitted an enabling bill to the legislature.

Firms bidding to build and operate New York City's central area congestion toll are virtually unanimous that the project faces catastrophe if the City attempts to proceed as planned. They say the scheme put out for comment by the City is unnecessarily complicated and expensive, and that the schedule is so rushed it may be impossible to meet. City officials have said they may have to adjust their plans.

CBS TV News in New York is reporting that MTA Bridges and Tunnels (MTAB&T) have given away 24,000 E-ZPasses so the favored can have free rides over the toller's nine toll bridges and tunnels in New York City, and presumably over other toll facilities in the regional E-ZPass system as well since the it can't discriminate.

New York state senate majority leader Joseph Bruno (Repub) is moving to have enabling legislation passed Monday for the central area toll (CAT) proposed for Manhattan south of 86th Street. He has appealed to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (Democrat) to convene a meeting of the state Assembly (or lower house) to pass the legislation. The US Government has set "mid July" - apparently Monday - as a deadline for a submission with state legislative clearance.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced congestion pricing by way of a central area toll (CAT) for Manhattan as part of a major plan for a "greener greater New York City." His proposal - a fullscale three year trial - defines a congestion pricing zone south of 86th Street where except for use of the West Side Highway/West Street, the FDR Drive, and major bridge approaches there would be an $8 toll for each entry and exit and daily movement within and a $4 toll for internal travel