DOT delivers $355m to curb City's congestion.

Together with State and City leaders, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg this week announced that the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $354.5 million to New York to implement his congestion pricing program or an alternative plan achieving the same reductions in traffic congestion, within the same time frame, and also using a pricing system.

The funds have been awarded jointly to the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT), the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).

Under the agreement, if the State Legislature approves a pilot congestion pricing plan or an alternative pricing mechanism, the MTA will receive $184 million for new bus facilities and the City will receive $112.7 million to establish Bus Rapid Transit in all five boroughs. The City will also receive $29.3 million for pedestrian and traffic signal improvements, $10.4 million in grant money to implement congestion pricing, $15.8 to improve ferry service, and $2 million to conduct research.

"We've worked very hard to secure these funds, and this is a major victory for the people of New York City," said Mayor Bloomberg.

All parts of the agreement are contingent on the State Legislature approving the pilot congestion pricing plan, or an alternative pricing mechanism, within 90 days of the opening of the next legislative session, and making it effective no later than March 31, 2009.

Under the agreement, the MTA would receive funds for the construction of bus depots in Jamaica, Queens and Charleston, Staten Island. Also, the MTA would purchase up to 367 new buses with funds already budgeted for the construction of the depots--as proposed in the USDOT Urban Partnership Agreement application. In addition, the grant also pays for constructing a bus lay-up facility, upgrading Park & Ride locations, improving pedestrian walkways to and from stations, and providing new technology at 223 intersections to better manage traffic flow.

The City Department of Transportation will construct an East River bus lane to decrease travel times.

New York City will receive $112.7 million to begin Bus Rapid Transit, which will give New Yorkers bus lines with improved infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling that make service faster and more efficient. A high speed Bus Rapid Transit system will be developed in New York City in all five boroughs along major transit corridors that lack subway service. Under the agreement, the City will also receive $10.4 million to begin congestion pricing in Manhattan south of 86th street, with a requirement to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the congestion pricing zone by 6.3%. The City is also committed to spending $112.7 million for technology acquisition.

Finally, the City would receive $15.8 million for ferry service improvements to connect developing neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens with Midtown and Lower Manhattan.