New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on his weekly radio show on Friday that although his congestion charge plan did not make any progress in the state assembly, it is still very much on the table.

Bloomberg said he was disappointed that Albany could not come up with an agreement on his initiative before the state assembly closed for the summer break.

But he insisted that he will keep pushing because he believes it is the right thing for the city.

Bloomberg said State Senate majority leader Joseph Bruno will be back in Albany for a special session on July 16, which is also the last day to submit another application for federal funds for the plan.

The mayor's plan would be to charge eight U.S. dollars for cars and 21 dollars for commercial trucks that enter Manhattan below 86th Street between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, or four dollars for drivers within the congestion zone, with several exceptions.

If the measure is approved by the legislature, New York City will become the first city in the United States to impose a broad congestion charge system, which was introduced in London in 2003 and has been credited with reducing traffic there.

Source: Xinhua