City Council set to hold hearing on congestion pricing

The City Council is holding a hearing Monday over the plan to implement congestion pricing.If approved by the City Council and the state Legislature, motorists will have to pay $8 to drive south of 60th Street in Manhattan during certain times of the day. Mayor Michael Bloomberg used his weekly radio address to outline what he says are the benefits of the plan. The mayor said the federal government would give the city $350 million that would go straight toward mass transit improvements.Among the improvements, according to Mayor Bloomberg, is the transit signal priority program. The program focuses on adjusting traffic lights to speed up bus travel. The mayor said more buses and trains will also be added to existing lines and up to 300 buses will be purchased to create new local and express lines.Panel approves congestion pricing plan suggestions