Just when New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg thought he might be getting somewhere with his plan to impose a congestion charge on Big Apple motorists, state lawmakers (who have to approve the idea for it to become a reality) may have given it the kiss of death. Those who read my post on the subject last week may recall that one of the driving forces behind the congestion charge was the opportunity to receive federal grants. The deadline for approving new road-toll measures in order to be eligible for the grants, however, is this Monday. And since state legislators haven’t set a date to vote on whether or not to approve the plan, that funding, worth up to $354 million, is in jeopardy.

New Jersey is another thorn in Mayor Bloomberg’s side when it comes to charging drivers who use Manhattan’s roads. If the proposal is approved, Democratic Govenor Jon Corzine is promising to sue “to protect New Jersey drivers.”

You can read the full story on the drama behind the New York’s goal to implement a congestion charge here. The issue is worth paying attention to — Torontonians may one day have to brave a similar battle over whether to force drivers to start paying for the use of city streets.

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