Tonight at 7:30 PM (I guess they were trying to show people how late they work when we’re paying attention) the New York City Council approved the congestion pricing measure by a vote of 30-20.

The measure now goes to the state legislature, who is expected to rubber-stamp the measure.

If approved, the new tolls could be imposed by March 31, 2009.

I am too lazy to paraphrase the plan, so I will quote the New York Times Cityroom:

“The congestion pricing plan, as approved by a 17-member state commission that voted at the end of January, would charge drivers with an E-ZPass $8 a day to enter Manhattan below 60th Street on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those drivers would also receive a credit for bridge or tunnel tolls they paid on the same day. Drivers without an E-ZPass would pay $9 and would not receive credit for tolls.”

via New York Times Cityroom