N.Y. City Fees Plan Draws Praise

New York City, which is considering a plan to charge cars and trucks extra fees in downtown Manhattan, is one of nine finalists for a share of more than $1 billion in federal money to alleviate traffic in urban areas, the New York Times reported Friday.

The plan, first announced in February, would slap fees of $8 for cars and $21 for commercial trucks that enter Manhattan below 86th Street from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, or $4 for drivers within Manhattan, with some exceptions, the Times said in a front-page story.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters praised the plan set by Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R), calling it brave, bold and long overdue, the Times said.

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) also gave tentative support to the plan, though he said there were still questions concerning implementation, as well as technical and financial issues, the Times reported.