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New York City's Congestion Pricing Plan Killed

State Senate and Assembly failed to act before a federal traffic relief grant application period expired.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg's proposed congestion pricing plan -- under which an $8 charge would be levied on motorists driving into lower Manhattan -- died last night, as the state Senate and Assembly failed to act before a federal traffic relief grant application period expired.

Bloomberg, in his Jan. 17 State of the City address, outlined his congestion pricing traffic control measure among a number of technology-based initiatives. Congestion pricing levies a fee -- or adds a tax according to critics -- on vehicle traffic in congested areas, and has been tried in cities such as London, Stockholm and Singapore.

Wayne E. Hanson served as a writer and editor with e.Republic from 1989 to 2013, having worked for several business units including Government Technology magazine, the Center for Digital Government, Governing, and Digital Communities. Hanson was a juror from 1999 to 2004 with the Stockholm Challenge and Global Junior Challenge competitions in information technology and education.